Background History of the College:

The Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, which has as its motto: “EDUCATION FOR EXCELLENCE” was established in September, 1974. It was then christened School of Education, and administered by the Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin. The School started with only thirteen academic staff.

Some of the staff of the School of Basic Studies of the College were drawn to teach the academic subject contents, while those of the School of Education taught other pedagogical aspects of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) courses. Such a method of training NCE teachers later proved unsatisfactory. Consequently, the school was later changed to Advanced Teachers’ College, in order to reflect the true purpose for which it was established. It was also given an advisory body. By 1976, the College was completely detached from its parent body, Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin, with its own Edict and Governing Council. In 1978, its name was changed to Kwara State College of Education to be sited in Oro, and its Edict was accordingly amended. It was also affiliated to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, for the purpose of moderation of Examinations and Certification.

The College was later moved to a temporary site along Ilorin–Lagos Road where it occupied the former Federal Government College premises pending the time its permanent structures would be erected as its permanent site in Oro. However, the then Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Adamu Attah declared, in his Convocation address to the College in 1980, that the College would remain in Ilorin, while another one was to be established in Oro. It was that year that the College was reaffiliated to the University of Ilorin.

Edict Establishing the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin:

Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin was established in September 1974 by the Kwara State Government Edict No. 15 of 1984.

The Edict took effect from the date the College was established. According to the Edict, the College was established primarily to organize and develop courses for the training of various categories of teachers, to promote research and advancement of science and learning, and to offer community services.

The Governor of the State is the Visitor to the College. The College has a Governing Council whose membership is made up of people appointed by the Governor, on the recommendations of the Hon. Commissioner of Education. The Governing Council is responsible for the general supervision and control of the College. The Council is assisted by Finance and General Purposes Committee, Appointment and Promotion Committee, the Tenders Board and Emergency Committee.

There is a Provost for the College who is the Administrative and Academic Head of the College. He is responsible for the execution of policy decisions of the Council. The Provost is appointed for a single term of five years. He is assisted by two Deputy Provosts appointed by the College Governing Council. The College Registrar, Bursar, Librarian and Director of Works are also appointed by the Council. The Principal Officers of the College assist the Provost in the running of the affairs of the College.

The College has an Academic Board with the Provost as the Chairman. He is supported by his Deputies, Deans of Schools, Directors of Centres, Heads of Departments and Chief Lecturers (who are neither Deans of Schools, Directors of Centres nor Heads of Departments). The Academic Board advises the Provost and the Council on the direction and management of academic matters, the regulation of students and award of certificates. It also fosters and encourages research activities and publications.

Philosophy of the College:

The Philosophy of the College is based on the integration of the individual into a sound and effective citizen. This is summed up in the Motto: EDUCATION FOR EXCELLENCE. Since no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers, the College, in pursuance of its philosophy, lays emphasis on the production of highly motivated, conscientious, efficient and effective classroom teachers. The College is also committed to the production of teachers with the intellectual and professional background adequate for their assignment, and to make them adaptable to any changing situation not only in the life of their country but also in the world at large.

Man, his complex nature and the increasingly more complex society in which he lives, and his relationship with the metaphysical world (expressed in myths and religions) have been interesting subjects for investigation by scholars. Using various instruments (qualitative and quantitative, or a combination of both), the Arts and Social Sciences disciplines have sought to answer the basic questions concerning man, his society and his relationship with the metaphysical world. The NCE Arts and Social Sciences programmes seek to draw the teacher and his students into a mutual dialogue about their collective realities.

Prospects:

The students have the opportunity to acquire knowledge in the areas of Educational philosophy. Psychology, Sociology and Curriculum Studies as courses offered in the School of Education. Furthermore, they are exposed to Educational Technology, which is not only for developing teaching professionalism but to enable them integrate into and interact with the larger society.

The science and non-science students have the opportunity to receive lectures and guidance in Science Education in the Directorate of General Studies Education.

cience Education enables the teachers-to-be developed, the scientific attitude to life, respect other people’s views and pass judgment on the basis of available evidence.

There are other General Studies courses like the Use of English, Library Studies, Citizenship Education, Drama and Computer Science to enrich student-teachers’ horizon of knowledge of life.

Student-teachers on graduation with NCE have the prospects of teaching in a Nigerian Basic School (Junior Secondary School or Primary School). The College NCE graduates may, if they so wish, opt to go for courses not with teaching professionalism, such as Law, Accounting, Engineering, Pure Science, Social Sciences etc. The NCE graduates also have the opportunity to go for higher studies in Universities in disciplines on and outside the teaching profession.

The College Consultancy Services Unit (KWACOED Consultancy Services Ltd.), in response to the economic reality of the nation, operates ventures for community services and for generating funds for the College. The firm specializes in capacity building/training in education Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) NCE and Degree students. Bee Keeping and Therapy, Agro-allied Business, Computer and Information Technology Centre, as well as Computer Maintenance among others.

The College has a Continuing Education Centre (CEC) which is responsible for the administration of the Sandwich and Regular Undergraduate Degree Certificates in Education. The CEC has her full fledge centre. The College also runs Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) courses for serving Primary and Junior Secondary School teachers. Also there is a Professional Diploma in Education (PDE), IJMB and Pre-NCE Programmes.

Physical Development:

The College is bounded in the South by Odo Okun, a tributary stream of Asa along Lagos road, with outcrops that give way to a wide spread sheet erosion all over its premises. Furthermore, the physical structures were not developed for a very long time, for it was hoped initially that the College would move to Oro permanent site.

Suddenly, it was announced that it was “going to stay” permanently in its temporary site. Much was then needed to be accomplished. The few buildings inherited from its erstwhile landlord (Federal Government College, Ilorin) were grossly inadequate – a small assembly Hall, a few classrooms and staff offices and only two science laboratory blocks. This ugly situation persisted in spite of the ever increasing student population yearly. However, all hope was not lost as the year 1980 marked a turning point in the history of physical development of the College, especially, with the exit of the School of Management and Vocations of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin with whom the College was sharing the inadequate infrastructural facilities. Two additional academic blocks and two blocks of staff offices were built near the former School of Nursing Hostels in 1982. The hostels have now been fully occupied as classrooms and offices on the directive of the former State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki. Similarly, the administrative blocks have been expanded while virtually all the other buildings in the College have been rehabilitated. Today, the College has been given a face-lift. Visitors are welcomed by two admiring gates in which there is the College logo designed by a sculptor in the Department of Fine and Applied Arts in the College. Also a modern library has been constructed in response to the teeming population of library users.

A Model Nursery and Primary School Complex of the College has fully taken off at its permanent site, near the College Second gate, via Adewole Housing Estate. The College also has a Demonstration Secondary School, named Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin Model Secondary School, established in 1997. The College Shopping Complex is situated between the Model Schools and the Male Hostels. As part of the agricultural development in the College, five hectares of land have been put under cultivation, while animal husbandry and poultry farming are fully in operation.

The College Communication and Information Technology Centre (CITC) started as a Computer Centre in 1997. The centre offers Computer Education. CITC connects the College with the outside world for the purpose of obtaining information on all disciplines within the shortest possible time in order to enhance and encourage research and information dissemination. It makes on-line admission, registration and processing of students’ results.

The College has acquired, through the Federal Government Education Tax Fund (ETF), an auditorium capable of taking hundred students at a time for lectures, new lecture rooms, an ultra modern building for Educational Technology, Laboratories for Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Education, and Technical Education; Education Complex building and Computer & Information Technology Centre (CITC). There are now two male students hostels built by the Kwara State Government to ease students’ accommodation problem. In 2006, the State Government built a large Multipurpose Hall that can accommodate 500 seaters.

Student Enrolment:

The College took off with 21 NCE regular students in 1974 and enrolled its first set of NCE Sandwich students totaling 349 in 1986. There has been a fairly remarkable increase in student’s enrolment in the College according to the NCCE carrying capacity.

Staffing:

The College started with thirteen academic staff in 1974 but now has over 227 academic staff on its pay roll. The present crop of staff comprises of highly qualified men and women in various teaching subjects and courses. Majority of the academic staff possess at least a Master’s Degree, while a good number hold the Doctorate Degree. The staff have made remarkable contributions to publication of articles in reputable journals and books. They do participate in both national and international conferences, seminars, symposia, workshops, educative talks and debates on radio, television, art works and athletic competitions. The College staff serve as consultants, resource persons, external examiners and accreditors for the educational development of the country. There are also over 670 non-academic junior and senior staff in the College.

Co-Curricular Activities and Community Services:

The College encourages co-curricular activities by students, especially after the regular lecture periods. These include games and sporting activities, debates, cultural or dramatic displays and musical shows. Students have benefited tremendously in the areas of leadership, organizational ability, good social interaction and cognitive development.

Academic Structure of the College

The College has as its Academic Head, the Provost. There are two Deputies to assist him (Administrative and Academic). The College is divided into three Schools. At the head of each School is a Dean. The Heads of Departments are responsible to the Deans, while other lecturers are under the supervision of their Heads of Departments.

At present, the College has a Directorate of General Studies and three Schools, namely: Education, Junior Secondary Education, Early Childhood Care Education and Primary Education Studies in line with Kwara State Education Reform Agenda. These Schools house seventeen academic Departments, as against six at the inception of the College in 1974.