On July 21, 2024, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in collaboration with the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training, hosted a one-day stakeholders’ forum to address the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities when taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Representatives from various associations of people with disabilities, including those with hearing impairment, vision impairment, physical challenges, albinism, and spinal cord injuries, attended the forum. Key attendees also included Nura Iro Ma’aji, Senior Special Advisor to the Kano State Governor on Student Matters, Yusuf Ibrahim Sharada, Senior Special Advisor to the Kano State Governor on ICT, Professor Yahuza Bello, Coordinator of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), and a representative from Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies.
The objectives of the forum were to:
1. Discuss the specific challenges faced by people with disabilities in registering for and taking the UTME examination.
2. Explore potential solutions and strategies to mitigate these challenges.
3. Promote collaboration among key stakeholders to create a more inclusive examination process.
After thorough discussions, the stakeholders observed the following:
1. The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), as the organizers of the UTME, only prioritize individuals with vision impairment, neglecting other disability groups.
2. There is a lack of a comprehensive and precise national database for persons with disabilities (PWDs) eligible for participation in JAMB exams or the inclusive education system.
3. More than 80% of individuals with vision impairment lack computer knowledge.
4. There is a lack of readily available and standardized accessibility features for computer-based exams for visually impaired candidates.
5. Stakeholders noted a lack of or inadequate funding and allocation of materials and human resources, which has consistently been one of the biggest challenges.
