The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has declared that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 2024 will be entirely fee-free for individuals with disabilities seeking to register.
Prof Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB, shared this transformative revelation during an interactive media session, signaling the commencement of the 2024 UTME registration process.
Highlighting JAMB’s dedication to inclusivity, Oloyede affirmed that free application documents would be provided to all categories of Persons living with disabilities as a supportive measure. In an effort to ensure fairness for all candidates, he revealed the provision of audio books for blind candidates, a proposal stemming from the first National Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education in Nigeria.
Elaborating on the innovation, Oloyede emphasized the digital adaptation of traditional reading books, available in popular audio formats such as MP3, WMV, and WMA, compatible with all devices capable of streaming audio records, aiming to facilitate the understanding of subjects for blind candidates.
“This will help the blind candidates to easily understand the subject/text,” he added.
Oloyede further highlighted that diagrams would be omitted from questions for blind candidates, ensuring an equitable testing environment. Additionally, for the 2024 UTME, an e-copy of the reading text will be provided free for all categories of candidates, further enhancing accessibility.
This pivotal development marks a significant stride toward creating an inclusive and equitable educational system. Registration for the 2024 UTME is set to commence on January 15, with a fee of N6,200 for candidates abstaining from the mock examination, while those opting for the mock will pay N7,700 for registration.
