Olusesan Oba
Drivers in Maryland, United States can learner’s permit knowledge tests in Yoruba language, Iwitnesslive can report.
Authorities in Maryland said the learner’s permit knowledge test, and its study materials, will soon be offered in nine more languages, including Yoruba, bringing the total for each to 17 languages.
Getting a learner’s permit is the first step to getting a driver’s license in the state.
The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration said it is expanding accessibility services as part of Gov. Wes Moore’s focus on equity and access, according to CBS.
Maryland has one of the highest populations of Nigerian immigrants with a sizeable number of them speaking the Yoruba language.
Here are the new languages offered:
Yoruba (West Africa)
Tagalog
Amharic (Afro-Asiatic language)
Arabic
Russian
Urdu
Hindi
Farsi
Portuguese
American Sign Language
The new language offerings were determined with U.S. Census data.
“Improving accessibility for the driver’s knowledge test and study materials is critical to serve Maryland’s linguistically diverse population,” said Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer.
The current languages offered include English, Spanish, French, Nepali, Korean, traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.
