LAGOS — The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to the Lagos State Examinations Board to shift one of the dates of its Entrance Examination into Lagos State Model Colleges which fell on July 19 due to the Salah celebration.
The group said that July 19 and 20 were still being considered for the Muslim festival of Id Al-Adha while neither date had been confirmed.
The group made this known in a statement on Thursday, signed by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola in Lagos.
“The Lagos State Examinations Board has set aside July 15 17 and 19 for the conduct of the Year 2021 CBT-based Screening Test Entrance Examination into Lagos State Model Colleges.
“Coincidentally, the Muslim festival of Id Al-Adha is being speculated to hold on July 19 or 20.
“This has raised tension among Muslims in the state who have called our attention to the likelihood of a clash between the examination and the festival.
“From the look of things, July 19 will either clash with the Muslim festival or it will be too close for comfort.
” The inconveniences this is likely to cause can be compared to picking Dec. 24 which is too close to Christmas day (Dec.25) for an examination. It is therefore controversial.
” Our appeal is to avoid a highly controversial date as a mark of recognition, respect, and sensitivity for the feelings of Muslims in the state.
“Our humble suggestion is that another day be substituted for July 19 which is the last day of the examination. It is very glaring that the examination is a four-day affair. Instead of starting on Thursday, July 15, the exercise may start from Wednesday, July 14 and end on Saturday. Option ‘B’ is to postpone the last paper till after the Muslim festival,” Akintola said.
He said that Thursday, July 22 appeared to be suitable for this shift.
He further said the shift to Thursday, July 22 would not have any negative impact on candidates as there had been a shift in the dates planned for the same examination in the past.
