MURIC flays Akwa Ibom governmemt for fixing examination on Sallah day

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the Akwa Ibom State Government for fixing Senior Secondary Two (SS2) and Junior Secondary Three (JSS3) students’ promotion examination on Eid-El-Kabir day.

It lamented that fixing the examination the day when Muslims celebrate a major religious event, deprived the students in the state of their religious right.

The body demanded cancellation of the examination and that Muslim students should be allowed to take their examination after the celebration.

State Chairman of MURIC, Alhaji Jibril Akpanim, stated this in an interview with The Guardian.

“All SS2 and JSS3 students in Akwa Ibom went to school during the Eid-El-Kabir public holiday as directed by the state Ministry of Education, having been directed by the Commissioner, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, to continue the examinations on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 in spite of the public holiday,” he said.

In a statement issued by Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the group described the Akwa Ibom state government’s action as ‘insensitive.’

“We are shocked at the level of acrobatic religion, which some state governments are manifesting towards Muslims. The Akwa Ibom State Government is aware of the percentage of Muslim population made up of both indigenes and non-indigenes in the state.”

“The fact that the state Ministry of Education ignored them and insisted on continuing the examinations on Salah day prove that it is not prepared to coexist with other religions.”

“We also consider it an impunity for the state government to ignore Federal Government directive on public holidays and insist on holding examinations on public holidays. We condemn the decision to hold examinations during a Muslim festival and on a public holiday,” it added.

A brief statement issued by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education had read: “Please note that the JSS2 promotion examination will continue on Tuesday in spite of the public holidays. SS2 students, parents and principals of schools should adhere strictly to the directive.”