JAMB stops parents from choosing courses for PWDs

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has stopped parents from choosing courses for their admission-seeking children living with disabilities.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said this during an equal opportunity group conference, with the theme: Towards Increasing Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education in Nigeria, organised by the board yesterday in Abuja.

Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman, declared the conference open.

Oloyede said the board was ready not only to facilitate access but also ensure equity for admission seekers.

He said special arrangements had been made for the inclusion of PWDs to acquire tertiary education.

The JAMB boss, who was reacting to comments by the National President of the National Association of Visually Impaired, Stanley Onyebuchi, said: “The case of the student that wanted to study Law: it was her stepfather that said she could not go as far as Calabar to study Law but asked that she be enrolled in Kaduna State University.

“This is because the course she showed interest in was not available at the university, but the father asked that she study special education.

“We have now taken a decision that henceforth, just like with regular admissions, no parent will be allowed to have a say in the admission choice of candidates with disabilities.”

Onyebuchi said some members of his association faced rejection from tertiary institutions in the areas of their choice courses.

The national president said when PWDs sought admissions in tertiary institutions, some institutions castigated them that they were not meant to be admitted there.

He added that the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy had taken a toll on its members as many of them no longer continued their education.

Onyebuchi said: “I want the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities to take note of our complaint.

“If it means a sensitisation visit, we don’t mind going round. This is because, for us, the visually impaired persons’ education is key to our success. So, we will not take anything that will hinder us from achieving this.

“Also, with the increment in the tuition fees, that has discouraged our members from going back to school. I want to suggest that since the government wants our children to be off the streets, there should be free education for all persons with disabilities in all the tertiary institutions.”

Prof. Mamman said the Federal Government was working hard to ensure that every member of the society had equal access to education.

The minister said equal opportunity to higher education must begin with inclusivity.

He advised tertiary institutions and their communities to ensure inclusive access for PWDs.

Mamman added: “We must work by focusing on an accessible learning environment where a physically appropriate environment is needed and there is an inclusive curriculum for all students.

“Support services should be readily available in the institutions; faculty and staff training for those who will be sensitive to the need of the diversity must be put into consideration.

“All information from application processes in the format that will suit the PWDs must also be ensured.”

The minister promised to continue the delivery of President Bola Tinubu’s mandates by focusing on policies that promote inclusivity and unity.

Also, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Disability, Dr. Bashiru Daudu, said the House was about kick-starting the awareness of the disability Act 2018.

Daudu said the committee would start implementation of the Act in January 2024, stressing that this would address the needs of PWDs across the country.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Ahmad Kaita, pledged to explore innovative funding so that all Nigerians have equal opportunity to higher education.

The Chairman of JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Prof. Peter Okebukola, assured stakeholders that the group was created to review the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for candidates with special needs.