Kanyi Okeke
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, is giving albinos partaking in the 2012 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on March 24 two extra hours as a result of their sight problem.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. ‘Dibu Ojerinde, in Abuja, yesterday said that the albinos will henceforth enjoy additional time of two hours in its future examinations.
Ojerinde described the albinos as virtually impaired persons, hence cannot finish their exams at the same pace with other candidates.
Speaking at a briefing on the 2012 UTME Ojerinde explained that the concession to the albinos was informed by the peculiar sight problem associated with albinism.
He said that the consideration has become imperative for JAMB and all other examination bodies to do whatever they can to help these vulnerable persons.
He said, “For us in JAMB, we are trailing the blaze by incorporating the eye problem of the group into our examination planning”.
He however said that the board will in no distance future provide a level playing ground for all albinos that are desirous of tertiary education by availing them with magnifying lenses to help bolden font and type faces of words in examinations.
The Registrar added that a lot of Nigerians are ignorant of the peculiar problems of albinos especially the sight problem associated with albinism.
In his response, the Albino’s Foundation helmsman, Mr Jake Epelle, said the foundation would ensure that more albinos enter for the UTME in future.
Source:Vanguard
