Pre-Degree Unit
Welcome to the Pre-Degree programme of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), where candidates are given a good head-start over their peers. The programme, anchored by the Pre-Degree Unit, an arm of the School of Physical Sciences (SOPS), was initially established to provide greater opportunity for candidates seeking admission into the regular degree programmes of FUTO.
Introduction
In response to the high demand for university education in Nigeria, the Federal University of Technology Owerri in 2003, in line with her cooperate responsibility, established the Pre-Degree programme to assist the teeming youth of Nigeria remedy their academic deficiencies to enable them qualify for admission into the university. However, following the reforms introduced into the educational sector over the years, the University Management considered it necessary to modify the objective of the pre-degree programme as a major source of attracting and equipping prospective students in order to sustain the high level of FUTO graduates. The programme gives the candidates high quality intensive coaching which ensures a good head-start and promote superior studentship in the University.
Achievements
- Grooms over 200 potential FUTO undergraduates annually.
- Gives a solid head start to aspiring FUTO
- Department of Agricultural Economics
A Brief History Of The Programme
The Pre-Degree programme of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri was established in the 2003/2004 Academic session during the tenure of the 4th substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor J.E. Njoku with the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. F.C. Eze as the pioneer Pre-Degree Coordinator. The programme was aimed at arresting the decline in quality of students admitted into the University regular degree programmes, and thereby improve the quality of graduates produced by the University.
This is by way of admitting the candidates into a programme as non-regular students who will be taught by the same lecturers in the regular degree programmes. As a result, it was rather conceived as a remedial programme where the students take lectures and then register for external examinations coordinated by external bodies such as WAEC and NECO and possibly enroll for JAMB examination preparatory for admission into the regular University programme.
Since its inception in 2003, the Programme is housed in the former School of Sciences of FUTO with lecturers drawn from all the Departments of the School as well as the Directorate of General Studies. The School of Sciences has been split into two Schools, namely, the School of Physical Sciences (SOPS) and the School of Biological Sciences (SOBS), with SOPS currently housing the programme and providing most of the lecturers. The caliber of lecturers in the programme range from Professors, Readers, Senior Lecturers to Lecturer II and Assistant Lecturers in some cases.
The programme has been managed by erudite academics of the University including;
- F.C EZE 2003-2004
- I.C. NDUKWE 2004-2007
- P.C. OBASI 2008-2010
- S.C. INYAMA 2010-2012
- S.I. OKORONDU 2012-2014
- E.C. MBAMALA 2014-2016
- (MRS.) C. E. OGUKWE 2016-2019
- DR. C.U. IGWE 2019-DATE
Programme Description/Responsibilities of the Unit
The programme is an intensive one-year coaching course structured into 2 semesters of 12 weeks of lectures and 1 week of examination each. There is usually a 3 weeks break between the 2 semesters. The end of the programme usually precedes the beginning of new academic session of the University. Closures of the University do not affect the programme.
The lectures and examinations are undertaken within the four-walls of FUTO, with the candidates housed in the University’s hostel accommodation. The subjects taught are English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Candidates are also required to register and pass Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for that academic session under consideration. Thus, the pre-degree programme curriculum and coaching are also targeted at grooming the candidates for UTME examinations. However, it is not mandatory for them to sit for the post-UTME examination of the University or any other university in the country.
An overall score of 60% and above (or at least CGPA of 3.5 and above in a 5.0 scale) in the programme examinations and continuous assessments (comprising bi-weekly tests and assignments) is required to be qualified for consideration for admission into 100 Level (Year 1) of the relevant degree programmes of the University. Consideration for admission is based strictly on merit, success in UTME, entry requirements and in proportion to the admission quota of the University for the various Schools.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Candidates intending to pursue FUTO Pre-Degree Programme should have normal University entry requirement at the O’ Level SSCE/NECO or other equivalent examinations. All candidates for the Pre-Degree Programme are required to have at least 5 O’Level credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Agricultural Science in not more than 2 sittings. Eligible candidates are selected for admission via an entrance examination and certificate screening.
Dr Chidi Uzoma Igwe, KSM
Coordinator, Pre-Degree Unit
B.Sc., MMLS, PhD, AIMLS, FMLSCN
Email: chidi.igwe@futo.edu.ng
Tel.: +234 (0) 8066 075 587
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