Accesstech Calls for Inclusive CBT for Blind Candidates in JAMB Exams

The Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Accesstech Innovation and Research Centre GTE Ltd., Mr Opeolu Stephen Akinola, has congratulated Professor Segun Aina on his appointment as the new Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

In a statement issued in Lagos, Akinola expressed optimism about the appointment, noting that Professor Aina belongs to a generation that recognises Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a tool for inclusive development and has ICT as his area of specialisation.

Akinola, who has more than 25 years of experience deploying ICT and assistive technology infrastructure to expand opportunities for visually impaired people in education and employment, also commended Professor Aina’s five-year strategy aimed at reducing stress for candidates.

He noted that computer-based testing (CBT) could provide blind candidates with the same convenience available to their sighted counterparts when taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which JAMB conducts annually.

As one of Nigeria’s pioneer computer trainers for blind persons, Akinola pointed to the significant growth in computer literacy among blind students, which he said contributed to a 71 per cent pass rate in the 2015 and 2016 UTME examinations.

“I implore the new Registrar to resuscitate CBT for blind candidates as a priority part of his five-year strategy, and I am willing to assist the examination body in providing the equipment and skills to achieve success,” Akinola said.

Akinola, who obtained the Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) certification in 2022 and holds a master’s degree in Disability Studies from the University of Leeds, UK, also highlighted several assistive technologies that could improve accessibility for candidates with visual impairments.

These include screen readers, magnification software and refreshable Braille devices, which he said could help make examinations more accessible to blind candidates and people with low vision.

He urged the new JAMB Registrar to make accessible CBT a priority within the Board’s five-year strategy, stressing that the appropriate use of assistive technologies could help create a more equitable examination experience for candidates with visual impairments.

JAMB’s current provisions for candidates with disabilities include identification during registration and placement at designated JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) centres for special attention.

About Accesstech Innovation and Research Centre

Accesstech Innovation and Research Centre focuses on the use of technology and assistive solutions to improve access to education, employment and opportunities for persons with visual impairments and other disabilities.