The Muslim Congress (TMC) and Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit yesterday faulted the Lagos State Ministry of Education’s silence over the inclusion of Bible knowledge questions in the 2022 entrance examination for public schools.
The Islamic bodies lamented that its members’ kids who took the examination complained that the Christian questions were included in a general paper set for the Primary Six Placement Test into JSS 1 held on July 23, 2022, with reference number LSA/PT/2022.
The groups said those involved in the unethical act be penalised.
TMC Amir Alhaji AbdulWasiu Bangbala said: “Instructing innocent kids in primary school, to compulsorily attempt questions on a subject never taught them is offending their religious sensibilities. That three questions of a supposed General Knowledge examination were extractions from Christian Religious Studies, when it is not an appraisal for early catechumen waiting in line for baptism, is a subtle attempt at proselytism. The indiscretion of the examiners is not only unfair but also an indictment on the Ministry of Education. It is incumbent on the ministry to punish those responsible for the imprudence. The authorities must look at providing redress in the interest of justice and fairness and as a matter of priority, seek to calm frayed nerves by issuing an official statement to denounce the affronting aberration.”
MSSN Lagos State Area Unit Amir (President), Miftahudeen Thanni described the situation as a “misnomer”. He opined that the inclusion of only Bible knowledge questions was an injustice to the Muslim pupils.
“The deliberate act of setting only CRS in the general paper is a misnomer, knowing fully well that Muslim pupils will also take part in the exam. Nigeria is a multi-religious society and not a mono-religious state,” he said.