By Preston S Panyonnoh
In a groundbreaking moment for inclusive education in Liberia, the University of Liberia (UL) has for the first time administered its entrance exam to visually impaired candidates. A total of 14 visually impaired individuals sat the university’s entrance exams, marking a historic step toward accessibility and equality in higher education.
Thirteen of the candidates sat the undergraduate entrance on Saturday, July 12, at the Lake View site on UL’s Fendall Campus in Louisiana. An additional visually impaired candidate took the UL Aptitude Test for Graduate and Professional Schools on Monday, July 14.
This unprecedented milestone signifies UL’s deepened commitment to inclusive education, ensuring that no Liberian is left behind due to physical or visual challenges.
The achievement was made possible through the collaboration between UL’s Resource Center for Support Services and Alternative Learning, led by Mrs. Saydah Williamson Taylor, and the University Innovation Pod (UniPod), directed by Dr. Michael Flowers and Ms. Stephina T. Warner. The Resource Center focuses on providing academic and social support to students with special needs, including those with visual, hearing, and physical impairments.
Recognizing the challenges visually impaired students face in accessing higher education, the Resource Center reached out to UniPod to help design and implement a strategy that would allow these candidates to participate fully and effectively in the university’s rigorous entrance process.
UL President Prof. Dr. Layli Maparyan, who has championed inclusive education as one of her core priorities, gave full support to the initiative. Her approval empowered the Resource Center and UniPod to work together in providing tailored support for the entrance.
“This is a major accomplishment, especially under Dr. Maparyan’s leadership,” said UniPod Director Ms. Stephina T. Warner. “We trained facilitators who worked with the students using specialized equipment. This was about getting everybody included, just as the President envisioned.”
The facilitators underwent extensive preparation beginning Monday, July 7, learning how to navigate the technical tools and support the candidates during the exam.
Visibly emotional, Mrs. Saydah Williamson Taylor described the moment as a national turning point. “I’m in tears. My staff are overjoyed. We’re proud that the administration allowed us to try this. The University of Liberia is a beacon for the country, and today it shined brighter.”
She added that this initiative would change the perception of educating students with special needs, giving hope to a marginalized population and boosting the university’s capacity to adapt. “We now know we can do this. We will continue sharpening our ideas and approaches to better serve those with visual, hearing, and physical impairments.”
If successful, the visually impaired candidates will be fully integrated into regular classrooms, learning alongside their peers. However, instructors will be encouraged to collaborate with the Resource Center to provide course materials in Braille or accessible digital formats.
One of the candidates, Mr. Jackson Suah, expressed gratitude on behalf of his peers. “We’ve waited a long time for this opportunity. We thank the President of UL, UniPod, and the Office of Special Needs for making this dream come true.”
The 13 visually impaired candidates joined over 13,000 applicants who took the University of Liberia’s 2025 entrance exams for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional programs.
With this bold move, the University of Liberia has set a new standard for inclusion in the nation’s education system—ushering in a future where every Liberian, regardless of ability, has the chance to pursue their dreams.
