The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has urged JAMB to work with technology-oriented organizations to provide training and equipment for people with disabilities taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
This call was made in a Communique issued at the end of a one-day Stakeholders’ Forum on the Challenges Faced by People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Writing UTME, organized by CITAD in partnership with the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training in Abuja on Thursday.
The Communique was signed by Ibrahim Umar Abdulkharim, Chairman, Education Committee, Nigerian Association of the Blind NAB; Engr. Abdul D. Haruna, Pioneer and Former Chairman, Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter; Muhammad Sani Jumada, ICT Tutor, Kano State Association of Deaf; Hajiya Mariya Ishaka, Chairperson, The Albino Foundation, Kano; and Hamza Aminu Fagge, PWDs Coordinator, CITAD.
The forum included representatives from associations of people with disabilities, such as those with hearing impairments, vision impairments, physical challenges, albinism, and spinal cord injuries. Other participants included Nura Iro Ma’aji, Senior Special Advisor to the Kano State Governor on Students Matters; Yusuf Ibrahim Sharada, Senior Special Advisor to the Kano State Governor on ICT; Professor Yahuza Bello, Coordinator, JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG); and a representative of Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies.
The Communique outlined several barriers faced by PWDs, including the limited focus on vision impairment by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, the lack of a comprehensive national PWDs database, and inadequate computer knowledge among over 80% of people with vision impairment.
It also highlighted the lack of standardized accessibility features for computer-based exams, insufficient funding, and inadequate resources.
The Communique called for collaboration among key stakeholders to create a more inclusive examination process, including:
- JAMB should organize a National Stakeholders Meeting with individuals and associations of people living with disabilities to address these challenges.
- JAMB should work with technology-oriented organizations to provide training and equipment for people with disabilities, especially those with vision impairment.
- JAMB and state governments should organize training programs for staff at exam centers to support candidates with vision impairment effectively.
- JAMB should assess exam centers to identify and remove physical or environmental barriers for individuals with disabilities.
- JAMB should ensure adequate accommodation, transport, and feeding for all people with disabilities.
- JAMB should provide sign-language interpreters in all centers where people with hearing impairments are taking the exam.
- Magnifying glasses should be provided for albino candidates in all UTME centers.
- Trained scribes should be available at all centers to assist PWDs candidates with reading and writing.
- JAMB should simplify keyboard layouts (A, B, C, D, E) for people with vision impairment.
- The Kano State government should provide more ICT personnel and equipment at the Special Education School, Tudun Maliki.
The Communique stressed that the Computer-Based Test is now a permanent fixture in Nigeria and will soon become mandatory for persons with disabilities. It urged all PWD clusters, state governments, and organizations supporting PWDs to intensify efforts to raise awareness about the importance of learning computer skills to prepare for the examinations.
