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Pre Degree Science Programme

Historical Background

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Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (known at inception as Oyo State University of Technology, Ogbomoso) came into being on the 23rd April, 1990 when the then Military Governor of Oyo State, Lt. Colonel Sasaenia Adedeji Oresanya signed the edict establishing the University. That event came as a culmination of years of planning and persistent request for a State University by the People of the then Oyo State (now Oyo and Osun States). The Federal Military Government acceded to the state’s request on the 13th March, 1990.

On the 2nd May, 1990, the Military Governor of Oyo State announced the appointment of Professor Olusegun Ladimeji Oke, FAS, a distinguished Chemist as the first Vice-Chancellor of the University while the names of the Pro-Chancellor, Late Professor Ojetunji Aboyade and other members of the first Governing Council were announced on the 28th May, 1990. In January, 1991, the name of the Late Bashoru M. K. O. Abiola was announced as the University’s first Chancellor.

The first academic session began on the 19th October, 1990 with a total of 436 candidates offered admission into various courses in the four foundation Faculties of Agricultural Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences and Pure and Applied Sciences. Establishment of the College of Health Sciences was postponed for a year and it took off in October, 1991.

A study of the academic performance of Secondary School Leavers during the first year in this University showed that there was a need for a refresher course which would prepare Senior Secondary School leavers for their first year and subsequent years of study in the University. The Pre-Degree Science Programme was proposed by the Senate of this University in May, 1994 to serve this need. The proprietor-states approved the programme for reasons which include that:

It would provide opportunity for the indigenes of Oyo and Osun
States who might otherwise be unable to secure admission into
the university because of inadequacies regarding their ‘O’ Level
qualifications.

 

It would assist the university in attracting adequate number of
candidates whose quality the university can ascertain since they
are to pass through intramural training and testing of the
university.

 

Such a programme would be self-sustaining and would generate
the much needed funds for the University.

 

The programme is administered by the Board of Pre-Degree Science Programme which determines curricula, the admission criteria, the calendar for the programme examinations and, approval and release of results.

For 1995 programme alone, close to two thousand applicants obtained application forms. About one thousand were offered admission while seven hundred and ninety-two were eventually registered.

The programme was for a semester and the students were given tutorial, test and examination in the Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. The academic standard of the programme approaches closely the University’s 100-Level standard. The students were taught by very senior academic staff available in each of the teaching Departments.

At the end of the 1995 programme, close to 700 students were admitted into the undergraduate programmes, the break-down of which is given below:

 

Faculty of Agricultural Sciences                                -      98
Faculty of Environmental Sciences                           -      75
Faculty of Engineering and Technology                   -      293
Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences                      -       253
College of Health Sciences                                        -       27

 

The distribution according to state of origin of those admitted is as follows:


Oyo State                     -           325 (45%)
Osun State                   -           293 (41%)
Others                         -           100 (14%)

 

The programme is 100% self-supporting. The income from the programme was used to pay the programme Instructors, and to provide abundant supplies of stationery and teaching material for use by the teaching Departments and the Pre-Degree Science Programme Office. The fund generated from the programme was utilized in the construction of the Pre-Degree Science Programme complex. It comprises of two large lecture Halls, each with seating capacity of over three hundred and sixty, two large reading rooms each with capacity to seat three hundred students, two large book / journal rooms and a block of spacious offices to house the academic and administrative staff of the programme. There is clear evidence that the products of the programme do perform excellently at the 100-Level and subsequent levels of their programmes in the University.