By Busola Samuel
The Oyo State post-primary schools’ Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) has reacted to Muslim Right Concern (MURIC) allegation over the inclusion of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) contents in its ongoing Computer Based Test (CBT).
Oyo TESCOM Logo.
MURIC had raised concerns regarding the inclusion of CRK contents as part of assessment for Muslim candidates and other religious affiliations in Computer Studies and Physics subjects conducted on Tuesday, 11th August, 2020.
In a statement issued by Mrs. Grace Olabisi Oderinde, Permanent Secretary, Oyo State TESCOM, the management said the questions were randomly distributed to candidates based on established metrics. i.e Computer randomly distributed various questions to different candidates.
The pace at which adherents of religious sides misapply opportunities in parts of the country continues to cause apprehension hence MURIC’s concern.
But in the TESCOM’s reaction it confirmed the discovery but explained that it was not deliberate.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the publication in print and social media platforms by Muslim Right Concern (MURIC) on August 14, 2020 regarding the ongoing Computer Based Test (CBT) being conducted as part of recruitment process for teachers into secondary schools in Oyo state regarding the inclusion of Christian Religious Knowledge contents as part of assessment for Muslim candidates and other religious affiliations in Computer Studies and Physics subjects conducted on Tuesday, 11th August, 2020.
“The Commission enormously values the uniqueness and diversity of candidates as well as community and therefore understands that people from diverse religious affiliations need to work together in a safe and respectful environment. However, by virtue of the technology employed to assess the candidates(CBT), questions were randomly distributed to candidates based on established metrics. i.e Computer randomly distributed various questions to different candidates. We also observed that some Christians candidates and other religion had some Islamic Religious Knowledge contents in their assessment.
“TESCOM’s management and the CBT consultants usually conduct a high-level meeting at the end of the day to evaluate the daily assessment with a view to analysing and improving our service delivery. We usually review analytics and valuable insights from our daily report of the assessment and take proactive measures to ensure standardisation, fairness and inclusion of all our applicants.
“The Commission currently has several full and part time Muslim Board members while three out of the four Directors are Muslims.
“Arising from the above and based on our analytics, TESCOM Board and management has decided that affected Muslim candidates will not be graded for the five (5) inadvertently CRK contents found in their assessment and the same treatment will be applicable to affected candidates of other religious affiliations – The assessment will be ranked over Forty-five (45) instead of over Fifty(50) due to five(5) religious contents.
“This unanimous decision was made to remove all imagined or real bias, and in the overall interest of inclusion and diversity while the Management and Board are passionately committed to evaluating the ongoing CBT process with a view to addressing all necessary concerns.
“The Board and Management of TESCOM wishes to assure MURIC, all stakeholders and indeed the entire citizenry of Oyo State that we shall not deviate from the good vision of His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde in transforming the education sector in Oyo state to greater heights and to promote inclusion and diversity in the teaching sector of the pacesetter state.”
