The government said the decision is in line with its target of enrolling 825,000 students with disabilities in the next five years.
It said the plan also demonstrated its unwavering commitment to realising equal access to education for all Nigerians, irrespective of their physical status.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, gave the directive yesterday in Abuja at the maiden Africa Regional Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education (ARCEAHED) hosted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Sununu said the move was part of the government’s commitment to ensuring education for all, especially for PWDs across the country.
The minister praised JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, for championing the cause of equal access to education for all, particularly for PWDs.
He said: “The 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 the 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 realising equal access to education.
“It is also important that I inform this gathering that the DOTS policy (an acronym representing: Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training & Development, and Skill Development & Acquisition) takes into consideration the unique needs of the vulnerable groups, vis-Ã -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 realise their full potential later in life.
“By implementing these measures, Nigeria can demonstrate its commitment to equal access to education and provide opportunities for PWDs to reach their full potential
“As we work towards the realisation of inclusive education, we must provide the necessary physical and digital infrastructure to support various access and learning needs of all students.
“Tertiary institutions should not only be admitting students with disabilities but also be taking absolute care with regard to accessibility in their campuses.
“Besides that, teaching aids, such as braille, interpreters in sign language, and digital materials prepared for various skills should be provided.”
Sununu said the theme of the two-day conference: Advancing the Potentials of Persons With Disabilities (PWD) in Educational and Economic Development, “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”.
Oloyede urged the Federal Government to consider the adoption of Nigerian Sign Language (NSL) as the second official national language.
He said this would be a major demonstration of empathy for the large “number of fellow compatriots with hearing impairments”.
The JAMB registrar also called for the establishment of a support centre for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to facilitate access to education.
Oloyede stressed that the centre, equipped with the necessary technology and support, should 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).