In this interview a visually impaired person talks about his dilemma in his quest to get higher education. Apparently, his assertion raises questions about the University of the Gambia.

Foroyaa: Could you introduce yourself to the readers of the disability column?

Krubally: My names are Mr. Muhammad Krubally and I'm a visually impaired person. I hold diploma in law and am working partially with the special needs education unit under the integrated education programme for the blind and low vision children which is under the auspices of the ministry of basic and secondary education.

Foroyaa: How did your quest for education start?

Krubally: I started my education at Sankulay Kunda Primary School where I studied up to grade five. As a visually impaired person, it was my sighted colleagues whom I had to depend on to read topics for me from both the black board and text books. Having realized my situation, one of my headmasters at the said school wrote a transfer letter for me so that I could be transferred to Campama School for the Blind which was located in Banjul.

At my new school I was introduced to Braille reading and writing. Upon completion of primary school, I moved to Garba Jahumpa Upper Basic School where I spent three years.

I also spent three years at Nusrat Senior Secondary school. After high School, I embarked on a three year diploma in law programme at Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI). My decision to study law was due to my passion for it. I have a childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. When I started the course I thought I was on track to realise my childhood dream.

Foroyaa: Having successfully completed the diploma in law programme at GTTI, are you not aspiring to get an LLB (Bachelor Degree in Law)?

Krubally: Well, it has always been my dream to get a degree in law. Clearly, the University of The Gambia currently runs a degree programme in law. As I speak it is my wish to attend the University of The Gambia. But by virtue of certain requirements which I feel is discriminatory, my dream has been brought to a halt. The discriminatory requirement is that as a visually impaired person I have to pass Mathematics at credit level. This requirement lacks logic given that blind and visually impaired students in this country don't have the facilities to do mathematics at school. Imagine somebody who cannot see the black board and access text books because they are not in Braille. How can persons with visual impairment do mathematics when actually they have not been taught? It is not just about lack of facilities to teach visually impaired people mathematics, but also lack of trained personnel who are skilled and have the technical know how to teach persons who are blind or have low vision.

Apparently, the University of the Gambia did not take note of the above mentioned fact and decided to make mathematics one of their requirements even for persons with visual impairment.

As far as that requirement is concerned it is grossly unfair on visually impaired people.

It is worth pointing out that visually impaired people are not asking the University of The Gambia to give them any preferential treatment, but the fact remains, how can one do well in a subject which he/she has not been taught? We would not have complained if the facilities and personnel were in place.

A good analogy would be for a sighted person to sit in a classroom and close his eye while a teacher teaches mathematics.

Undoubtedly, he would not be able to capture anything without actually seeing and following the steps on the black board.

In a nutshell the UTG's requirement of mathematics is holding my education.

Foroyaa: Does that requirement of mathematics which equally applies to visually impaired people not a form of systematic discrimination?

Krubally: Undoubtedly, it tantamount to a systematic discrimination which is inconceivable in this twenty first century. It may have been that when they were setting their requirements they did not know whether blind and low vision people could do it.

However, now that they know it they should review it and act swiftly. I must say that I discussed the matter with UTG authorities, but they insisted on sticking to the status quo.

Foroyaa: Why are you so passionate about law?

Krubally: One of my reasons for being so passionate about law is to make sure that fair dispensation of justice prevails. In addition, I want to defend the disadvantaged and give voice to the voiceless.

Foroyaa: What would you tell the UTG authorities with respect to admission of persons with visual impairment?

Krubally: Well, the University of the Gambia should become a well informed university. They ought to know that education for all (EFA) forms a very cardinal pillar of the ministry's policy over the entire world, there are countless universities providing education for persons with visual impairment and other people with other forms of disabilities.

As such I'm saying that for UTG to be considered a modern tertiary institution thriving in the twenty first century, it must be able to not just admit students with disability, but should in addition create the enabling environment for them.

It is not because visually impaired people cannot do mathematics but the system in this country makes it impossible for them to study mathematics. In developed countries technological advances have enabled persons with visual impairment to do very well in mathematics.

Failure by UTG to review end reverse this discriminatory requirement means UTG authorities lack orientation on such issue which would be unfortunate given that universities are considered to be the pinnacle of knowledge.

Foroyaa: Should this requirement of mathematics be resolved, do you think UTG has what it takes to create a conducive environment for students with visual impairment? Do they have all the necessary facilities?

Krubally: Should they compromise mathematics as an entry requirement, UTG still does not have the facilities to support persons with visual impairment. UTG lacks Braille text books and computers with soft wares which persons who are blind or have low vision can use. For a person who is blind or partially sighted to be able to undergo any programme of study, there must be text books, Braille and large print format so that they can access the books or materials without having to depend on anybody for assistance. Undoubtedly, UTG has a long way to go as far as education for the visually impaired is concerned.

With a doubt, the technology is available for the education of blind and visually impaired people. So the one million dollar question is why UTG is not in pursuit of it.

When UTG lobby for funds and assistance they should take into consideration that they need to invest in education for persons with visual impairment.

Foroyaa: The Constitution stipulates that no law should be discriminatory and no person should be treated in a discriminatory manner by a person performing the functions of any public office or any public authority. What do you think of the effect of the UTG requirement viz a viz this provision of the Constitution?

Krubally: UTG has formulated a rule which is not inconformity with the constitution.

If UTG maintains this status quo, visually impaired people must challenge them by taking the issue to court to seek redress.