FCE lecturer develops App to educate blind students in Mathematics

…seeks sponsorship for wider use in schools

Dr. Sariat Ajibola Adelakun, a lecturer at the Federal College of Education, Special, Oyo, has developed an application aimed at teaching visually and hearing-impaired learners Mathematics and other science subjects across all levels.

She announced the innovation during the college’s 11th inaugural lecture, explaining that the app has been tested and found effective for blind students and others with special needs who struggle with learning scientific concepts.

In her lecture titled “In Pursuit of STEM Accessibility For All,” she drew attention to the continued exclusion of students with visual and hearing impairments from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. She said her experiences observing the challenges faced by visually impaired learners pushed her to advocate for equity and inclusion, noting that students with hearing impairments also fall behind due to communication barriers.

She also spoke on the need for sign language that captures scientific terms, pointing out the absence of a standardized system for complex terminology, symbols, and abbreviations used in science.

Expanding on her work, she stated, “This inaugural lecture underscores the transformative potential of inclusive STEM education for Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI) students in Nigeria.” Her research over more than two decades led to the development of tools such as the Equation Format Converter (EFC) and tactile STEM Kits.

The lecture called for national adoption of accessible learning tools and for inclusive teaching methods to be incorporated into examinations and accreditation processes. She also suggested stronger partnerships with government, NGOs, and tech providers, as well as mandatory continuous professional development for school personnel. She urged policymakers, educators, and funders to support innovations that make STEM learning accessible to all students.

She appealed to the government and organizations to help train teachers on how to use the app in schools.
“We must disseminate the new kits to empower the blind, deaf, and mute to engage with scientific subjects in both primary and secondary education across Nigeria.
“I implore the Nigerian government at all levels, alongside educational policymakers, to leverage our research endeavors in their quest to advance the nation’s educational agenda for all. The app is readily available, and we are prepared to train teachers in its application within all schools in Nigeria.”

The Provost of the college, Dr Ademola Rauf Salami, also noted that the Federal College of Education, Special, Oyo is the only institution of its kind in Nigeria and in Sub-Saharan Africa mandated to cater to the educational needs of persons with disabilities.

According to him, the college has the highest concentration of special education experts, equipment, and resources, adding, “We strive for best global practices.”

He further stated: “Federal College of Education, Special, Oyo has been declared as the hub for special education needs, by TETfund, a centre of excellence in the specialised education in Nigeria.”

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