The Federal Ministry of Education has directed that some categories of physically challenged persons be exempted from the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.
The ministry said universities and other tertiary institutions in the country should exempt the blind and deaf people from the exam.
Handing down the directive on Tuesday at the 19th Policy meeting on admission organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, at Gbongan, Osun State, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, also said prisoners and foreign centre candidates should be accorded the waiver.
According to him, such category of people should be considered for admission, so long as they meet the minimum requirements.
He also said that the tertiary institutions should not take fresh photographs or fingerprints of candidates for screening as JAMB had been directed to forward those used by the candidates to write the examination as a way of checking impersonation.
Echono, further cautioned the tertiary institutions not collect more than the N2, 000 approved by the ministry as fee for any post-UTME screening.
He said further: “Admission to all programmes leading the award of a first degree, national diploma and Nigeria Certificate in Education must be processed through the Central Admissions Processing System of JAMB. Also, all tertiary institutions must ensure that they update their matriculation lists on the Central Admissions Processing System as appropriate in content and on time.
“The board and the tertiary institutions should ensure that candidates under the Special Needs category are considered for admission provided they meet the minimum requirements. They are; blind and deaf candidates, prison candidates, foreign centre candidates. These candidates should be exempted from any other test apart from the routine scrutiny of their credentials.
“In order to halt the substitution of candidates with impersonators, JAMB has been directed to make available to all tertiary institutions the facial and finger images of the candidates of each institution for screening. It is therefore not permitted for any tertiary institution to retake fresh photographs or fingerprints.”
