On the 21st of July 2024, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in partnership with the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training organized a one-day stakeholders’ forum on the challenges face by people living with disabilities in writing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The forum was attended by different representatives of the associations of people with disabilities i.e. Hearing Impairment, Vision Impairment, Physically Challenged, Albinism and People with Spinal Cord Injuries.
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Others include Nura Iro Ma’aji, Senior Special Advisor to Kano State Governor on Students Matters, Yusuf Ibrahim Sharada, Senior Special Advisor to Kano State Governor on ICT, Professor Yahuza Bello, Coordinator, JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) and representative of Aminu Kano Colleague of Islamic and Legal Studies. The objectives of the forum were to:
1. Discuss the specific challenges face by people with disabilities in registering for and writing UTME examination
2. Explore potential solutions and strategies to mitigate the challenges
3. Poster collaboration among key stakeholders to create a more inclusive examination process
After critical discussion by the stakeholders, it was observed that:
1. The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board who are the organizers of the UMTE only give priority to people with vision impairment excluding/neglecting other disability groups
2. There is lack of a comprehensive and precise national PWDs database that encompasses individuals eligible for participation in the JAMB exams or the inclusive education system
3. It was observed that more than 80% of people with vision impairment lack computer knowledge
4. There is lack of readily available and standardized accessibility features for computer-based exams for the visually impaired candidates.
5. Stakeholders observed that there is lack of or inadequate funding and allocation of both materials and human resources, this has always been one of the biggest challenges of PWDs
6. Most of the braille machines used by JAMB for UMTE are ineffective while many are outdated.
7. Lack of trained scribes to assist with reading and writing answers.
8. Lack of accessible examination halls with features like ramps and elevators.
9. The albino group has raised concerns about the inadequate lighting system in the examination halls, which negatively affects the performance of members with partial sight during exams.
10. It was observed that there is no or inadequate magnifying glasses for the Albinos candidates
11. Another observation made was lack of sign language interpreters during exams.
12. For the physically challenged people, it has been noticed that the JAMB centers lack ramps/elevators, public convenience accessible for the physically challenged people.
13. Stakeholders observed that JAMB provides writing slates, styluses and braille papers, as well as feeding, accommodation and transport fares to the blind and visually-impaired UTME candidates
Recommendations:
Based on the challenges mentioned above, stakeholders at the forum unanimously agreed that to have an inclusive education and ensure no one is left behind, the followings recommendations should be implemented with the immediate affect:
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JAMB as an institution responsible for organizing the exam should organize a National Stakeholders Meeting which will include individuals and associations of people living with disabilities to discuss and find solutions to the challenges face by these category of people
JAMB to liaise with technology oriented organizations to assist in providing training and equipment for the people with disabilities, especially those with vision impairment
JAMB in collaboration with states governments to organize comprehensive training programs for JAMB and exam centers’ staff to equip them with the knowledge and skills to support candidates with vision impairment effectively
To ensure no one left behind, we urge the leadership of the JAMB to conduct assessments of exam centers to identify and address any physical or environmental barriers that may hinder access for individuals’ with disabilities.
JAMB in collaboration with states government to ensure providing adequate accommodation, transport and feeding for all people with disabilities
JAMB to provide sign-language interpreters in all the centers where people with hearing impairment are writing exam in the country
That adequate magnifying glasses should be provided for Albinos candidates in all UTME centers
Trained scribes should be stationed at all the centers to assist with reading and writing answers for the PWDs candidates
That JAMB should provide front page UTME examination with students details
That keyboard should be simplified (A,B,C,D,E) for people with vision impairment
Kano State government was urged to provide more ICT personnel and equipment at the Special Education School, Tudun Maliki
The stakeholders asserted that the Computer-Based Test is now a permanent fixture in Nigeria and will soon become mandatory for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Therefore, all PWD clusters, state governments, and organizations supporting PWDs should intensify efforts to raise awareness among PWDs about the importance of learning computer skills in order to prepare for the examinations.
Signed:
1. Ibrahim Umar Abdulkharim, Chairman, Education Committee, Nigerian Association of the Blind NAB
2. Engr. Abdul D. Haruna, Pioneer and Former Chairman, Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter, Secretary Coalition of the Disables Self Advocacy Network Group (CDSANG).
3. Muhammad Sani Jumada, ICT Tutor, Kano State Association of Deaf.
4. Hajiya Mariya Ishaka, Chairperson, The Albino Foundation, Kano
5. Hamza Aminu Fagge, PWDs Coordinator, CITAD
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