JAMB procures special computers for visually impaired to take 2015 UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has procured gadgets to facilitate the participation of the visually impaired candidates in its Computer Based Test (CBT) in March.

The Head, Media and Publicity of JAMB, Mr Fabian Benjamin, made the disclosure in a statement made available to pressmen on Thursday in Lagos.

According to the statement the development is to ensure that no category of persons is left out during the forthcoming 2015 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination on the all CBT mode.

“The computers which are called Braillenote Apex is procured to ensure that the visually impaired candidates are all accommodated in the 2015 CBT. “It will enable the visually impaired to read and answer questions via voice or Braille, hence making the examination all inclusive for all categories of candidates,” it said.

The statement noted that arrangements had been put in place for the implementation of the CBT. It said the success story recorded in the previous trials and challenges had put the board on a better pedestal to fine-tune its strategy to an unquantified success story.

More than 20 visually impaired candidates and prospective candidates for the UTME were engaged and trained during the pilot trials. “The demonstration is on-going as the registrar has directed the Psychometric Unit of the board to proceed to Lagos, Enugu and Gindiri zones to demonstrate the machine on the visually impaired candidates for the 2015 UTME,” it said.