The Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board,
JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, says potential blind candidates for UTME will write
2017 examination via interactive mode.
JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, says potential blind candidates for UTME will write
2017 examination via interactive mode.
Speaking while addressing some blind candidates from the
Bethesda Home for the Blind, at the board’s stakeholders’ meeting with CBT centre
owners on Monday in Lagos, Oleyede said the prospective blind candidate will
have their 2017 UTME exams by interactive mode because of the insufficient
number of Note Apex Machine which was normally used by them.
Bethesda Home for the Blind, at the board’s stakeholders’ meeting with CBT centre
owners on Monday in Lagos, Oleyede said the prospective blind candidate will
have their 2017 UTME exams by interactive mode because of the insufficient
number of Note Apex Machine which was normally used by them.
He said: “This year,
we are going to interact with you. We will not be using the Braille Note Apex.
we are going to interact with you. We will not be using the Braille Note Apex.
”Once you fill the forms,
we are going to group all of you nationwide into three zones, Lagos, Kano and
Abuja and during the examination, experts will interact with you on the various
subject.
we are going to group all of you nationwide into three zones, Lagos, Kano and
Abuja and during the examination, experts will interact with you on the various
subject.
“As a result of this
development you will not be taking Mathematics in this year’s examination.
development you will not be taking Mathematics in this year’s examination.
“The experts will have
discussions with you, assess you on the various subjects (except Mathematics)
and score you over 400 and then give us your scores,’’ he explained to the
already excited blind candidates.
discussions with you, assess you on the various subjects (except Mathematics)
and score you over 400 and then give us your scores,’’ he explained to the
already excited blind candidates.
“We know it is going
to cost the board a lot because we are bringing experts from diverse subject
areas to interact with them for this 2017 examination only, but at the same
time, very equitable as well as inclusive.”
to cost the board a lot because we are bringing experts from diverse subject
areas to interact with them for this 2017 examination only, but at the same
time, very equitable as well as inclusive.”
Oloyede also noted that it is indispensable for the blind candidates
to take the examination through this methode due to inadequate training they
had in handling the Braille machines for the examination.
to take the examination through this methode due to inadequate training they
had in handling the Braille machines for the examination.
He futher added that it would be unfair to forcibly subject
the impaired candidates to use the machines even when they had not been
adequately trained on how to use them.
the impaired candidates to use the machines even when they had not been
adequately trained on how to use them.
“As you know, they do
not have the capacity to use these machines and exposing them to it just 24 to
48 hours before the examination does not reflect equity.
not have the capacity to use these machines and exposing them to it just 24 to
48 hours before the examination does not reflect equity.
“Henceforth we will
place emphasis on training all prospective blind candidates nationwide for
about two weeks on the use of the Braille Note Apex machine before the
commencement of our examinations.
place emphasis on training all prospective blind candidates nationwide for
about two weeks on the use of the Braille Note Apex machine before the
commencement of our examinations.
“Before next year’s
examination, all prospective blind candidates for UTME would have gone through
residential training on the ticket of JAMB.
examination, all prospective blind candidates for UTME would have gone through
residential training on the ticket of JAMB.
”We are not asking
them to pay or do anything. They will pay the normal fees for the examination
and then train them, whether they want to sit for UTME or not, as long as they
are in their final year.
them to pay or do anything. They will pay the normal fees for the examination
and then train them, whether they want to sit for UTME or not, as long as they
are in their final year.
“This will make it
easy for them to use the machines,’’ Oloyede explained.
easy for them to use the machines,’’ Oloyede explained.
He urged state governments to help the blind students in
their respective states by acquiring the Braille Note Apex which will serve as
an added advantage to their training.
their respective states by acquiring the Braille Note Apex which will serve as
an added advantage to their training.
The Registrar added that a centre would be made available in
each of the states for the training and hence, the need to buoy up the state
governments to procure the machines which costs about ₦1.5 million naira each.
each of the states for the training and hence, the need to buoy up the state
governments to procure the machines which costs about ₦1.5 million naira each.
He added: ”We have
found out too that some of the blind candidates do not perform optimally in our
examination because they are not properly exposed to the machines.
found out too that some of the blind candidates do not perform optimally in our
examination because they are not properly exposed to the machines.
“That is the main
reason why we want to suspend the use of the machine for this year’s
examination and opt for the interactive mode.
reason why we want to suspend the use of the machine for this year’s
examination and opt for the interactive mode.
“As soon as we get
more of the machines, we will continue with the Braille note Apex CBT.”
more of the machines, we will continue with the Braille note Apex CBT.”
He said the Digital Bridge Institute has assured the board that
subsequently, it will acquire sufficient machines for the teaching these
candidates before and during the examination.
subsequently, it will acquire sufficient machines for the teaching these
candidates before and during the examination.
Oloyede said only 20 of the machines are currently available
for the board and that would not be enough to serve over 200 blind candidates
nationwide that would be taking the examination in May.
for the board and that would not be enough to serve over 200 blind candidates
nationwide that would be taking the examination in May.
