FG directs tertiary institutions to offer direct admission to PWD

By Mariam Abeeb

The Federal Government has directed all tertiary institutions to offer direct admission to candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum admissible scores for their chosen programmes after participating in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Dr. Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Education, re-issued the directive in Abuja during the first Africa Regional Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education (ARCEAHED).
He emphasized that the move is part of the government’s commitment to ensuring education for all.
The minister lauded the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), led by Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, for championing the cause of equal access to education for all, particularly persons with disabilities.
“”JAMB also sought and obtained approval at the 67th National Council on Education meeting to exempt candidates with disabilities from Post/UTME Screening. I, therefore, reiterate, as already announced, that all tertiary institutions in Nigeria are to offer admissions to all candidates with disabilities who possess minimum admissible scores into the programmes of their choice after writing UTME.
“This initiative, together with the ambitious target to enroll 825,000 students with disabilities cumulatively over the next five years, demonstrates Our unwavering commitment to realizing equal access to education.
” It is also important that I inform this gathering that the DOTS policy takes into consideration the unique needs of the vulnerable groups vis-à-vis their needs for quality education and assurance that every child, including those with disability challenges, will have adequate opportunities to acquire adequate skills to realize their full potential later in life, ” the minister said.
According to Sununu, the theme of the two-day conference, ‘Advancing the Potentials of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in Educational and Economic Development’ is quite appropriate, as it speaks directly to the heart of our shared mission: ensuring that every individual, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, is given the opportunity to thrive, contribute, and lead in their communities and beyond.
On his part, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, called for the establishment of a support centre for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to facilitate access to education.
He proposed that the centre, equipped with the necessary technology and support, have at least one branch in each geo-political zone of the country, under the auspices of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).