In its bid to ensure inclusivity in the education system, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has initiated plans to ensure equal opportunities are provided for People With Disabilities (PWDs).
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede announced this in an interview with Arise TV, Morning Show, on Tuesday.
He said a Joint Equal Opportunity Group under the leadership of Prof Peter Okebukola has been established to cater to all the needs of PWDs.
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Oloyede while highlighting the various facilities provided to ensure the equal opportunity, disclosed that the initiative is not for favour or sympathy but to increase the participation of PWDs in the education system.
He said, “We are calling on people with disabilities to believe that JAMB is an establishment of government that cares and caters for their needs. They should not hesitate to call us where there are peculiar problems for them to solve.”
Highlighting that JAMB will be responsible for the financial implications of registered PWDs, Oloyede emphasized that JAMB is focusing more on the blind and deaf this year.
“We are starting with the blind and deaf this year and those with 5 credits at O’level are to go to any closest centre to register and through JOEC, JAMB will be paying for the form.
“Not just the paying cost of the form but in addition of the accommodation of where they go, transportation and their guide, we are paying them full,” he added.
Oloyede further stated that all living beings are ‘potential disable person’ and as such, it is in the interest of everyone to prepare, support and contribute their quota to providing equal opportunities for PWDs.
The Registrar concluded that JAMB has reached an agreement with tertiary institutions to ensure admissions for PWDs that meet up with stated minimum requirements provided by schools irrespective of their ranking at the picking table.
In the same vein, the CEO/Founder of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, advocated the implementation of formulated policies to aid the inclusivity of PWDs in the education sector as well as other sectors in the nation.
Epelle while appreciating JAMB for its continued support for the PWDs, urged all stakeholders; both traditional and faith-based institutions, media platforms as well as communities of PWDs to further support the movement for inclusivity of PWDs.
Speaking on JAMB initiative of equal opportunity, Epelle said, ” it is a fantastic idea that has produced meaningful results that have given access to persons with disability, in a safe environment, to take examination, feeling comfortable and dignified, and getting result at the end of the day.
“The only challenge is that we need to create awareness so that those who are in the local community, sub national and national will be aware of this wonderful initiative and these individuals will then eventually subscribe to it,” he added.
Addressing the challenges of reaching out, Epelle assured that several town hall meetings will be held across the 774 LGAs across the nation, radio talk shows will be done and as well engage social media elites to share on their platforms.
He continued that, “we will engage the Federal and State Ministry of Education. We will try to use the social circle, events and as well use successful people who have gone through this system and are able to get admission to use as role model.”