The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised concerns about the examination schedule released by the Lagos State Ministry of Education, calling it insensitive. The third term examinations for students and pupils in public schools across the state began on Thursday.
MURIC has criticized the scheduling of the third paper on Friday, July 14, which coincides with the time of the obligatory Friday prayer (Jumu’ah). According to MURIC, this timetable denies Muslim teachers and students their constitutional right to observe Jumu’ah prayers.
In a statement, Dr. Busari Jamiu-Ademola, the Chairman of MURIC Lagos State Chapter, expressed disappointment with the disregard for the religious and constitutional rights of Muslims in the examination timetable. The statement highlighted that the third paper on July 14 starts at 1:45 pm (originally scheduled for 1:30 pm), while the second examination on the same day ends at 1:00 pm.
Dr. Jamiu-Ademola described this as a violation of rights and questioned how Muslim teachers and students would be able to observe their obligatory Jumu’ah prayers under such circumstances. He urged the Lagos State Ministry of Education and Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to urgently revise the timetable, considering that Jumu’ah prayer is typically observed between 1 pm and 2:30 pm in Lagos.
MURIC emphasized that the rights to education and freedom of religious practice of all Lagosians should not be disregarded. They called for sensitivity towards the religious practices of Muslim students and teachers in the state, urging the authorities to avoid psychologically tormenting them with insensitive scheduling decisions.
In conclusion, MURIC expressed its hope for divine blessings upon Lagos State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They called for the prompt resolution of the issue to ensure that the rights and religious practices of Muslim students and teachers are respected and protected.