23rd July, 2024
PRESS RELEASE:
DON’T HOLD OYO SUBEB CBT TEST ON FRIDAY – MURIC
The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board,
Ibadan has slated one of its Computer-Based Tests (CBT) for Friday, 26th
July, 2024. However, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has kicked against the
Friday exercise. The group argued that holding the test on Friday will deprive
Muslims of the opportunity of participating in the exercise. It therefore
suggested that the test be shifted to Saturday, 27th July, 2024 or
any other day next week.
MURIC’s intervention came through a press
statement issued on Tuesday, 23rd July, 2024 by its Executive
Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
He said:
“A Computer-Based Test (CBT) has been slated for Friday,
26th July, 2024 by the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board
(SUBEB), Ibadan.
“This
schedule is not convenient for Muslim candidates because they have to attend
the Jumu’ah prayer on that day. Although (according to a statement on social
media) the head of SUBEB in Oyo State has reportedly promised to allow the
Muslims to go on break for Jumu’ah prayer on that day, we believe that this is
practically impossible and therefore not advisable. SUBEB is putting the fate
of Muslim candidates at risk.
“We are in possession of a video clip showing the
mammoth crowd of candidates who came for the CBT exercise yesterday, Monday, 22nd
July 2024. The clip revealed about four extremely long queues which extended from
the screening centre, spread around SUBEB compound and went on to the main road
for more than a hundred meters.
“The unusually long queue can be attributed to the
high rate of unemployment in the state and it is doubted if SUBEB can attend to
all those candidates before the end of yesterday. There is bound to be spill-overs
which may necessitate adding reservations to the next schedule.
“The
Friday exercise is most likely to be affected as a result of the unexpectedly
large turnout. It may make the exercise cumbersome on Friday thereby making it
impossible for SUBEB to fulfil its promise to allow Muslim candidates to take a
break for Jumu’ah prayer.
“In any case, taking a break from the venue of a test
to go for prayers is not in the best interest of candidates. Examinations,
tests and interviews are known to generate tension in candidates. That is why a
serene atmosphere must be created by the organisers. This is the global best
practice.
“Neither should the candidates be made to walk or
run up and down before the exercise. But a situation in which Muslim candidates
are made to take a break to run to the mosque and rush back negates these
requirements. Candidates who are expected to sit down calmly cannot be
wondering outside the CBT centre.
“The arrangement suggested by SUBEB puts Muslim
candidates at risk. They cannot perform well due to the tension generated while
running to the mosque. This arrangement puts Muslim candidates in serious
disadvantage when compared with Christian candidates who sit calmly at the
centre. It is just not conducive for muslims.
“We
therefore reject this arrangement. Instead, we suggest that the Friday exercise
should be shifted to the next day, Saturday, 27th July, 2024 or any
other day next week.
“Anyone who argues that we should not bring
religion into official matters should tell SUBEB and other institutions and agencies
who are fond of fixing programmes on Fridays to use both Friday and Sunday
morning for such events at least for some semblance of balance.
“Muslims will stop complaining if organisers of examinations,
tests, meetings, etc can fix such events on Sunday mornings when Christians are
expected to go to the church. It is then that non-Muslims will know how Muslims
feel when such events are slated for Friday afternoon. Who feels it knows it.
“Friday should have been completely left out of
the exercise since about two other days have been picked for it. In view of the
hullabaloo which the Friday question always generates, we expect that Nigerian public
officials should have understood the Muslims by now and avoided fixing programmes
on Fridays in its entirety. If Nigeria is not ready to make Friday a work-free
day, public officials should always remember how sensitive the day is to
Muslims.”
#OyoSUBEB
#NoToFridayCBT
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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