A total of 92 visually-impaired candidates, including individuals with Down syndrome and autism, participated in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Kano State.
This was disclosed by the JAMB Coordinator for Kano Centre, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza-Bello, on Monday, during an inspection of the special needs examination centre located at the School of Continuing Education, Bayero University, Kano (BUK). The exercise falls under the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), a platform established to cater for candidates with disabilities.
The former Vice-Chancellor of BUK explained that the 92 candidates were drawn from Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna states. He revealed, “Out of the 92 candidates, two have Down syndrome, while two others have autism.”
According to him, candidates were equipped with typewriters, braille machines, slates, styluses, and special paper to facilitate a smooth testing process.
Also, trained personnel provided amanuensis services writing assistance for those unable to physically complete the tests themselves.
“Since its inception in 2017, JEOG has recorded success, with a growing number of candidates with special needs gaining admission into various tertiary institutions across the country.
“Only about 25 per cent of regular candidates gained admission into tertiary institutions, while over 33 per cent of special needs candidates secured admission,”Yahuza-Bello said.
He stated that the special arrangement was a direct initiative of JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to ensure inclusivity in tertiary education, particularly for those whose conditions prevent them from using standard CBT systems.
“At CBT centres, the examination is displayed on computer screens and candidates choose options, but many of our candidates cannot read from screens or use keyboards. Our goal is to eliminate barriers to education, and the initiative builds upon JAMB’s ongoing reforms aimed at inclusivity, including the use of adaptive examination materials to meet diverse needs,” he noted.
The JEOG initiative, he said, currently runs in 11 centres across the country, with over 500 candidates with various special needs registered this year.
He commended the Vice-Chancellor of BUK, Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas, the Department of Special Needs at the university, and other partner institutions for their consistent support.
He added that JAMB provided free accommodation, meals, and transportation stipends for all the special needs candidates during the examination period.
Prof. Yahuza-Bello introduced Khadija, a visually-impaired candidate who previously sat for the UTME at the Kano Centre. Khadija, who scored over 240, is now in her final year studying BSc Dietetics and Nutrition at BUK.
She commended JAMB for the life-changing opportunity and encouraged current candidates to remain focused and determined