…gets approval to run NCE, degree programmes concurrently
The Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, has matriculated about 1,600 students for its 2024/2025 academic session, having satisfied the admission conditions into the 43 departments of the institution.
The event, held on Wednesday, marked the institution’s 48th matriculation ceremony and brought together the principal officers, directors, and academic staff of the college to witness the occasion.
While officially welcoming the new intake into the institution, the Provost of the college, Dr Ademola Rauf Salami, noted that the matriculation was organised to acquaint the students with the fundamental principles, norms, and culture of the ivory tower.
He declared that the college held these core values sacrosanct to sustain the institution as a centre for learning and character moulding.
The Provost, who was ably represented by his deputy, Dr B. A. Adebiyi, enjoined the new students to desist from all forms of anti-social activities, indecent dressing, and examination misconduct. He warned that indulging in any of these vices might cause their premature exit from the college without hesitation.
According to him, although the college is a peaceful and student-friendly institution, the management will not hesitate to invoke the necessary sanctions on any erring student.
“I would like to state here that it is only through education that citizens are equipped with skills for job creation, which could lead to poverty reduction in the country. In addition to your training, I want to charge you to look beyond the present and acquire practical and saleable skills that will make you self-reliant and job creators through the college’s Entrepreneurship Centre,” he said, adding that the college will continue to ensure the safety of lives and properties within the community.
Furthermore, the Deputy Provost, in a chat with the press, disclosed that the federal government has given the college an academic dual mandate to run degree programmes alongside the NCE level concurrently.
According to him, this development will give students the opportunity to obtain their NCE certificates and bachelor’s degrees within a five-year academic programme.
In other words, henceforth, undergraduates of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, will graduate with two certificates: an NCE and a BSc, with a focus on special education. He added that the college has been upgraded as the hub of special education in Africa and is regarded as the best institution for special education.
Speaking in the same vein, the Registrar of the institution, Mr Joseph Araoye, corrected the misconception held by the general public about the college. He declared that the college has the mandate to train teachers in special education.
According to him, graduates of the college are equipped with the skills to teach both regular students and pupils with special needs. He emphasised that the institution is not solely meant for people with disabilities, although it offers educational opportunities to people with special needs to enhance their productivity in society. Instead, it is a general institution of learning with a mandate to produce teachers for children with special needs.
He further clarified that the school comprises a large number of able-bodied individuals admitted for teacher education with an emphasis on special education. “Very few of our students have one disability or another,” he said.
Similarly, the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Agbolade Babatunde Giwa, affirmed the college’s commitment to educating students in both academic and character development.
According to him, the college places emphasis on character building and fostering cordial and friendly relationships on campus.
He noted that the institution has the mandate to produce role model teachers who will impact lives both academically and morally.
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