The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has made a significant move to promote inclusivity and equal access to education for individuals with disabilities.
JAMB has reduced the registration fee for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from N5,000 to N3,500 for visually impaired candidates and others living with disabilities.
This decision aims to ensure that persons with disabilities (PWDs) have equitable access to tertiary education.
Is-haq Oloyede, JAMB Registrar, announced this development at a press briefing in Abuja, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to advancing equal opportunity access to higher education for all.
According to Oloyede, “As we gather for this world press conference, we are reminded of our collective responsibility to ensure that no individual is left behind in the quest for access to quality education.”
He further stated, “JAMB, through the JEOG, has been at the forefront of ensuring that persons with disabilities are provided with a level-playing field in accessing higher education.
It is not enough to simply open doors of opportunity; we must ensure that these doors are accessible to everyone, irrespective of their physical, sensory, or cognitive abilities.”
To further drive this initiative, JAMB’s Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) is hosting the First Africa Regional Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education (ARCEAHED) today and tomorrow in Abuja.
The conference aims to enhance access to higher education for PWDs, improve the learning environment in tertiary institutions across Africa, and attract participants from countries like Ethiopia, Malawi, Egypt, and more.
The conference will take place from Tuesday, September 17, to Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at the Idris Abdulkadir Conference Hall of the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Maitama, Abuja.
The primary objective of the conference is to explore innovative solutions that bridge the gap in educational access for PWDs.
Oloyede emphasized, “We recognise that education is a fundamental human right, and as such, we are dedicated to making higher education more inclusive and accessible across Africa.”
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