60 visually impaired UTME 2021 candidates write exams in Kano

Visually impaired candidate

About sixty visually impaired candidates have on Wednesday write 2021 University and Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, at School of Continuing Education, Bayero University, Kano.

The immediate past Vice Chancellor of the university Yahuza Bello told journalists that the candidates were drawn from Jigawa, Katsina, Kano and Kaduna states.

Mr Bello who double as coordinator of the centre said Kano has been hosting candidates from all parts of Northern Nigeria, but this year the management of JAMB has approved decentralization of the centre.

According to him the newly created centres were sited at Bauchi, Yola, Birnin Kebbi and Jos.

Mr Bello announced that JAMB has provided free accomodations, feeding and transport to all candidates and their guide.

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The examination body according to Bello has also donated free slate and stylus to all candidates for their personal use after the exams.

“Today in Kano we have about sixty candidates that are writing the examination from four states. Kano state Katsina state, Jigawa state and some from Northern Kaduna are writing their examination here.

“The group here in Kano have been meeting consistently in order to make all the necessary arrangements for the examination including the procurement of equipment that they are going to use. Including the slates, the stylus, typewriter and braille machine. We made them available for them. We are also giving them free slate and stylus,” he said.

He recalled that the examination was introduced by the Registrar of JAMB Ishaq Olayade in 2017 as an alternative to computer based test for visually impaired candidates.

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“The registrar of JAMB who was new then, noted that there are a lot of candidates that are disadvantage particularly with the new method of computer based test introduced. The blind candidate cannot read computer screen. There is no way they can read the question paper and answer those questions. He brought this initiative to ensure these candidates have the opportunity to further their studies.

“We introduced this method of reading the questions for them, so that they can answer. Another group we later found that are not such special are the candidates that are in prison. They used to be under JAMB equal opportunity group. But found that if normal arrangement is made, those candidates can take their examination like any other candidates. JAMB have made arrangements for those that are in prison to take their examination together with normal candidates,” Mr Bello said.

The immediate past vice chancellor recalled that Bayero university has waived post UTME to all visually impaired candidates who scored 160 in JAMB examination.

This according to him this initiative has commenced yielding positive results as one visually impaired student from department of Islamic studies had recently graduated with second class upper degree.

A candidate from Katsina state Abdussalam Abubakar told KANO FOCUS that he was provided with free accomodations and feeding.

He said he came along with ten of his classmates from Government College for the blind, Katsina.

Another candidate from Kaduna state Aliyu Muhammad said he has applied to study special education at University of Abuja.

He commended JAMB management for providing all writing equipment required by visually impaired candidates during the examination.