A Nigerian Islamic human rights association, the Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC) has accused the officials of the Oyo State Teaching Service
Commission (TESCOM) of Christianising the CBT examination organised to
screen applicants for teaching appointments in the state. MURIC alleged
that Muslim candidates were made to answer questions on biblical
stories.
The allegation was contained in a press statement made available to
pressmen on Friday, 14th August 2020 by the Director of MURIC, Professor
Ishaq Akintola.
The statement reads:
“Muslims who took part in the CBT examination organised by the Oyo State
TESCOM were shocked when questions on Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK
or BK) surfaced among the questions. They had earlier received
information that candidates would be tested in Mathematics, English
Language, Current Affairs, Knowledge of Teaching Education, and the
candidate’s special area. But to their dismay, they found questions on
CRK like explaining how Moses was a shepherd to his father-in-law and
how Elijah was thrown into the fire.
“These CRK questions have the potential of putting Muslim candidates at
a great disadvantage while Christian candidates are most likely to score
high marks. This will eventually lead to the disqualification of Muslim
candidates and the employment of Christian teachers. The bias becomes
more pronounced when it is realised that no Islamic knowledge question
was asked to create a balance.
“MURIC frowns at this lopsided arrangement. It is grossly unfair to
Muslims. It should be noted that this is an exercise that has a direct
bearing on the welfare of the candidates’ families. The implications are
far-reaching, including a calculated attempt to impoverish Muslim
families while Christian families are enriched.
“We, therefore, reject the exercise. We call on the state governor to
order TESCOM to conduct another CBT examination. We are astounded by the
level of Christianisation going on in Oyo state agencies since the
appointment of Christian chairmen and directors.
“We call the attention of Nigerians and the international community to
this episode. It is a pointer to what has been going on in most
southwest states. Muslims have been turned into underdogs.
Unfortunately, those who complain among us are labeled as terrorists. We
are threatened with assassination and blackmailed as receivers of funds
from terrorist groups. All these in an effort to get those who oppose
the persecution of Muslims out of the way so that the oppressors can
continue in their evil ways ad infinitum.
“For the umpteenth time, MURIC affirms that threats of assassination,
blackmail, character assassination, falsehood and forgeries aimed at
implicating MURIC will not deter it from speaking for the oppressed and
marginalised Muslims anywhere in Nigeria.
“In our concluding remarks, we denounce the imposition of bible
questions on Muslims. We appeal to the governor of Oyo State to order a
resit of the CBT examination on a level playing ground.”