The Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo Nigeria’s premier institution for inclusive teacher training has recently come under scrutiny from its own students over the poor state of some key academic facilities. When The Nigeria Education News team paid a visit to the institution, particular attention was drawn to the ICT Centre and the college bookshop both of which students say are in dire need of a comprehensive upgrade.
Our team, during the campus visit, toured the facilities to assess the situation first-hand. The ICT Centre, which should ordinarily be a hub of digital learning and technology-based instruction, was observed to be outdated, with visible signs of wear and tear on its structure. A number of computers were either malfunctioning or too slow to support modern learning platforms. Students attempting to log on for digital literacy training or CBT preparations often had to wait long hours due to limited functional systems.
Likewise, the college bookshop painted a picture of neglect. The building housing the bookshop appeared aged, with broken ceiling panels, worn-out shelves, and a very limited inventory of current textbooks, academic materials, and essential learning tools. Many students who spoke with our reporters described the place as “archaic” and far below the standards expected of a federal institution.
Following these observations, The Nigeria Education News team embarked on an on-campus investigation, interviewing over two dozen students across various departments to gather reactions regarding the state of these facilities. What emerged was a unified voice of dissatisfaction and a fervent call for the college authorities to act promptly.
A 200-level student from the Department of Special Education said, “We are supposed to be trained with up-to-date tools, especially because this is a special college that caters to inclusive education. But the ICT Centre feels like something from the early 2000s. We deserve better.” Her sentiments were echoed by several others who insisted that the current state of the ICT Centre was hurting their ability to prepare for modern-day teaching and technology integration.
Another student from the School of Arts and Social Sciences described the bookshop as “uninspiring,” stating that the books available are outdated and do not reflect current academic curriculum or newly recommended texts. “Sometimes we have to go to town or order online because the bookshop doesn’t have what we need,” he said, pointing to a missed opportunity for the institution to generate revenue and support learning simultaneously.
When our team approached some of the staff members at the ICT Centre, they confirmed that many of the systems had not been replaced in over five years. One technician, who preferred not to be named, mentioned that lack of funding and delayed procurement processes were part of the challenge. He also added that some of the equipment had been donated years ago and were now obsolete.
Students urged the school’s management, particularly the Provost, to prioritise the renovation of both the ICT Centre and the bookshop. A student union official told The Nigeria Education News, “We’ve written proposals and complaints about this before. We’re hoping that with increased media attention, something will be done. We want to be proud of our learning environment.”
Interestingly, a few students pointed out that while other parts of the college had seen improvements such as the lecture halls, some staff offices, and the general sanitation, the ICT Centre and the bookshop had been left behind. “It feels like no one cares about these places,” one Education Technology student noted. “But we use them regularly. Why are they forgotten?”
Some lecturers also weighed in during our campus visit. One senior lecturer from the School of Science Education stressed that without a functional ICT Centre, many teacher trainees are graduating without sufficient practical knowledge in digital pedagogy. “We can’t teach 21st-century learners with 20th-century tools. The authorities must wake up,” he said.
Further complicating the matter is the growing dependence on digital education across the nation. As Nigeria moves deeper into CBT-based testing and hybrid teaching models, the absence of a well-resourced ICT Centre becomes a critical deficiency, particularly in an institution dedicated to training future educators for inclusive classrooms.
The Nigeria Education News team noted that the institution has tremendous potential, and many of its students are eager to learn and innovate. However, this enthusiasm can only be sustained if the learning environment is upgraded to support their ambitions. Facilities such as the ICT Centre and bookshop are no longer optional; they are fundamental to academic success and competitiveness.
It is also noteworthy that nearby institutions, including Emmanuel Alayande University of Education and The Polytechnic Ibadan, have embarked on aggressive ICT and resource modernization drives. Students at Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, are calling for similar commitment so they are not left behind academically or technologically.
In conclusion, while the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, continues to be a reference point for special needs teacher training in Nigeria, it must address the infrastructural decay threatening its future. Students are not merely complaining, they are advocating for progress, relevance, and a learning environment that matches their passion for excellence.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the college management for an official comment were still ongoing. Nonetheless, The Nigeria Education News will continue to monitor developments and update the public on any steps taken to revamp the ICT Centre and the bookshop, both of which remain vital to the institution’s academic mission.
