At least 577 visually impaired candidates are poised to sit the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across 11 centers nationwide, according to Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, Chairman of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Equal Opportunity Group.
Speaking to reporters on
Thursday in anticipation of the 2024 UTME for visually impaired candidates and
others with special needs under the purview of JEOG, Professor Okebukola
highlighted that this year marks the first implementation of a bimodal system
of UTME administration by JAMB through JEOG. This system offers candidates the
choice between Fully Braille and Fully Read-Aloud modes.
The total of 577 blind
candidates for the 2024 UTME represents a significant increase from previous
years, with 348 in 2022 and 313 in 2023. Professor Okebukola attributed this
rise to heightened advocacy efforts by JEOG, which he vowed to further
strengthen in the future.
He praised JAMB Registrar,
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for his unwavering commitment to equal access to higher
education, noting initiatives such as on-site refund of UTME registration fees
for qualified visually impaired candidates and other supportive measures
including free accommodation, Braille materials, customised attire, meals, and
transportation.
Professor Okebukola's accolades
for Prof. Oloyede extended to a nomination for the CNN Heroes Award, citing his
outstanding contributions to equal opportunity in education.
The examination, scheduled for
April 22 and 23 across the designated centers, will involve 20 subjects.
Notably, blind candidates will sit the same test papers as regular candidates,
with no compromise on standards.
Regarding the distribution of
candidates and center coordinators, Professor Okebukola detailed the
allocation, highlighting prominent academic figures tasked with coordination
responsibilities across various centers nationwide.
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