Prof. Oloyede Monitors The Conduct Of UTME For The Blind

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The Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on Friday, 28th April, 2023, has monitored the conduct of the 2023
Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for blind candidates in Lagos State.
The special examination was conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the visually impaired candidates and was held between 27th and 29th April, 2023, in eleven centres across the federation under the supervision of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), headed by Prof. Peter Okebukola.
The Registrar, who was elated seeing the joy on the faces of the blind candidates, assured them that there is ability in whatever disability one has adding that the Board would do everything within the law to ensure that they achieve their educational goals. To do this, he said the Board would facilitate admission for those who met the minimum requirements for admission.
The Chairman, JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Professor Peter Okebukola, who received the Registrar at the University of Lagos Centre, gave some highlights of the 2023 UTME while commending the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, for the special arrangement for this category of Nigerians, saying the goal of the Oloyede-led JAMB is to ensure that no Nigerian who is eligible, is prevented from taking the UTME regardless of disability.
He disclosed that from 2017, JEOG has processed about 2,600 candidates for the UTME with over a third admitted to courses of their choice in higher education institutions in Nigeria, mainly universities, adding that this JAMB initiative has been cited in the last four years in several countries, as a good model for Africa.
The former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), explained that the mode of examination administration is bimodal- use of Personal Computers (PCs), use of the traditional Braille slate and stylus/typewriters in writing answers to questions that are read out by a subject expert, stressing that the blind candidates take the same test items as those who are not blind.
Prof. Okebukola, who is also the Chairman Governing Board of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) revealed that JAMB has approved that from 2024, there would be a gradual migration to a full CBT mode customised for blind candidates.
He noted that a pilot test is to be conducted later in the year to trial this mode. He also disclosed the options available to candidates in terms of opting for fully Braille, fully CBT and read-aloud modes.
Giving insights into the intervention of the Board on this exercise, Prof. Okebukola said, “In 2019, of the 390 candidates, a total of 175 (44.8%) were given admission. This was unprecedented in the history of admission of such category of students into the Nigerian higher education system, another of Professor Oloyede’s golden legacies.
“In 2020, 89 of the 351 blind candidates (25%) that sat the UTME got admission. In 2021, a total of 110 blind candidates were given admission, out of the 332 that sat the UTME. This 33% admission of blind candidates to higher education in an annual cohort is unprecedented in the African higher education system.
“In 2022, 139 candidates out of the 364 candidates that took the UTME (38%) were admitted to higher education institutions of their choice.
“Five of the blind candidates scored above 270 in the 2022 UTME. Ninety-two scored above 200. When compared proportionally with the non-blind candidates, the blind candidates are doing as well, if not better than their sighted counterparts.”
“The 2023 exercise is taking place in 11 centres nationwide. This is in line with the desire of the Board to bring the venue of the examination closer to the candidates, especially in view of the prevailing security situation in the country.
“The centres are coordinated by seasoned academics and university administrators. The total number of candidates is 364,” he stated.
He added that JEOG is already implementing a strategic plan of action that would gradually increase the ICT component of administration of the UTME to match improvement in ICT usage for the education of the blind in the nation’s Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
“Through the kindness of Professor Is-haq Oloyede, JAMB takes full responsibility for hotel accommodation and feeding of the candidates in the 11 centres and pays generous transport supplementation while providing them with conducive environment to sit the examination.
“Additionally, each blind candidate receives the very precious tools of slate and stylus from JAMB that will be used during their course of study, when admitted in any tertiary institutions.
While delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of all the candidates taking the examination, Candidate Jacob Abednego Ogheneganre, commended the Registrar for always putting their welfare into consideration as evidenced by all his programmes for the Blind.