Messages of hope from blind JAMB candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) seems to be one of the many innovative agencies in Nigeria considering their tendency to adapt technologies to their operations.

This year, it conducted a full computer-based tests for all its candidates. Moreover, it took more steps to procure machines and equipment to enable disabled candidates, especially the visually challenged ones to be part of the test.

During the last JAMB examination, Abuja Metro at the Chams Centre had a wonderful interaction with some visually-impairedcandidates as they took their exams with brail computers fitted with hearing aids to read the exam questions to them. They all admitted it was a sweet and wonderful experience that has become a boost to their ambitions. The candidates said the Computer Based Test (CBT) that held last month touched their lives in special ways and made them feel important, remembered and part of the system that encourages them realize their potential in education and career development.

Friendly machines

The Braillenote Apex did play its role in accommodating the visually impaired and gave all candidates equal chances in the exam regardless of their challenges. The Braillenote Apex was acquired from a software giant, Humanware based in Europe. It enabled the visually impaired candidates to read and answer questions via voice or Braille. At the centre, Abuja Metro discovered that the special candidates were properly taught while preparing for the CBT test how to make best use of the gadgets. The exam environment was very conducive. The paraphenalia consisted of a round table with eight or five candidates with just two sessions. They were provided with refreshment because of the long five hours their exams lasted. They all confirmed using the Braillenote Apex for the first time and tagged it easy or interesting. Prior to the time of JAMB Computer Based Test, such candidates used typewriters to write exams that came with a lot of mistakes.

Even the Minister for Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, who was quite impressed, pointed out that the BrailleNote Apex provided by JAMB for the 150 visually impaired candidates taking the exams was first of its kind in Africa and encouraged the special candidates on his visit to a center in Abuja that the ministry is out to assist them actualize their dreams. “We are catching up with modalities; we are catching up with technology particularly in enabling the blind candidates. It is the first of its kind in the continent.”

One of the visually impaired candidates, referred to as Pastor Lucky who attended the Government Secondary School Gwale felt excited about the experience and said he is hopeful of attaining his ambition to study law wants to study law in the university. “I find it very much interesting and I cherish the experience. It is encouraging and I must say the government has demonstrated that it really has the challenged persons in mind by putting up the facilities for the examination.

“Initially, when we were told this year’s exam will be computer based, I was worried about what will become of the visually impaired, but surprisingly, we were made to understand that there is provision for us. I say kudos to the government and more power to their elbow. They should do more so we can catch up with the modern world and even set the trend.”

Another candidate, Kingsley Uche, of Naka Memorial School in Platuea State, described the procedure for the examination as simple. He said “if you know how to use the facilities, it is very simple because you don’t have to worry if your type writer ink is coming up well or not, you just have to do the thing without stress. It is better.

“I must appreciate the government for making this possible, this is how great Nigeria starts. I also commend JAMB for this wonderful effort. It is an ideology that cannot be joked with. No one would have any problem with loss of papers after the exams, thereby stopping the person’s admission. I will see my result the next day unlike the typewritten exam where we have to wait for months.”

Improved facility

Talking about the efficiency of the BrailleNote Apex over the typewriter, Pastor Lucky said: “It is better than the typewriting because with this I will make my corrections whenever I make mistake. But with the typewriter, once you make a mistake, it remains. It can’t be corrected. But here you can easily, go back and correct it. I think it will be great if the facility is provided in the universities.”

He explained some shortcomings in the equipment and said they have brought such complaints to the notice of the examiners and wished they were corrected for future tests. “There are some corrections that ought to be made. In English language for instance, there should be a way the computer would help visually impaired candidates to detect phonetic symbols or fill gaps on dotted lines.” Kingsley Uche on his part said: “Rome was not built in a day, JAMB has tried their best and I believe tomorrow, more will be done. But to me this is the best, and I know more can come as innovation keeps coming. I appreciate JAMB for this opportunity.” Kingsley Uche is a young man who boils with passion for law and wishes to help victimized people in the future. He said: “By the special grace of God I want to study law because the passion has been there since my childhood, I want to speak for the less privileged, talk on behalf of the widows, oppressed, depressed and suppressed. The people are suffering, and I am a victim of one or two things but I don’t want to go into that. So, I don’t want people to face it anymore, I want the upcoming generation to have a voice.”

While these special candidates expressed gratitude to the government and JAMB, they hope that using the computer will not just end at the JAMB level, but extended to the universities and possibly that the BrailleNote Apex computer can be affordable to the candidates for personal use.

Magic machine

According to expert information, personal Braille Note Apex has the thinnest and lightest Braille note taker, soft key applications for dynamic real-time communications, enhanced support for large documents and media files, plug-and-play visual display, convenient user-replaceable battery. It also possesses integrated real-time clock that maintains time and date for 30 days without battery power.

The comfortable full-size Braille keyboard makes note taking quick and easy. Signature thumb keys make extensive reading a real pleasure and effortless. The BrailleNote Apex offers outstanding stereo sound capabilities for playing back recordings, listening to audio books, interviews, news, music or any Internet radio programs.