BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL

The School of Basic and Advanced Studies (SOBAS), formerly known as the School of Matriculation Studies (SMS) is the Usmanu Danfodiyo University’s School for remedial/pre-degree studies. The School was established in 1995 to serve as a hub for the intensive preparative training of prospective candidates for admission into various degree programmes of the University.

The School has its origin in the early 1970s as a pre-degree programme under the Faculty of Science, and then later under the Division of General Studies. The School was restructured into its current form in 1995. Since its establishment, the School has been able to successfully feed several thousand students into various degree programmes of the University. Products of the School are therefore, found in various fields of specialisation contributing their quota both within and outside the country.

In October 2022, the School was repositioned to continue to address the increasing needs of its catchment area community for preparation of candidates to gain admission into the University, thus the name was changed to School of Basic and Advanced Studies (SOBAS). This is in order for the School to accommodate more programmes that will open wider opportunities for candidates to acquire higher qualifications and or join the University. Apart from Matriculation and Remedial Programmes, UTME (JAMB) Coaching/Training and Extramural Classes are also available for candidates who wish to be trained on how to successfully write and pass SSCE and computer – based JAMB examination.

Structures/Facilities

The School resides in its permanent structure within the premises of Sahara Hostel, opposite the City Campus of the University. The School has four classes, each with a capacity of about 250 students and ETF lecture hall (located in the City Campus) with a capacity of 500 students. The School’s administrative Block houses the Director’s office, Examination Officer’s office, Administrative Secretary’s office, Staff Room and the old laboratory of the School. The School also has four Science laboratories: 2 for Chemistry and 1 each for Biology and Physics. There is also a dedicated library stocked with books and other learning materials accessible to registered students of the School. The library, however, is under the administrative control of the University Librarian rather than the School’s Director.

The classes have separate toilet facilities for female and male students. There is also a mosque under the control of the School for female Muslim students. The Muslim male students use the Sahara mosque which is under the control of the Student Affairs Division through the City Campus MSS.

The University Management had, in October 2022 approved the establishment of IJMB programme in SOBAS to serve the dual purpose of giving candidates the associated qualifications and facilitates their direct entry admission into the University and other institutions. To that effect, additional two (2) classes, each 150 capacity had been handed over to the School by the University Authority.

Admission

The admission is through the purchase of a form online by Students. Such students must have 5 credits in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and English language. The Admission is done by a central committee chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics. Other members of the committee are: The Registrar, Director of the School of Matriculation studies, Director Academic planning, Admissions officer of the University and Examination officer of the School of Basic and Advanced studies. Only students with five credits at WAEC/NECO/NABTEB are qualified for admission into the Matriculation Programme.

Academics

Currently, students at the School offer five compulsory subjects including Biology, Chemistry, Mathematic, Physics, and English Language. The students are examined during and at the end of the 9 months intensive programme. All students are also required to register and sit for JAMB/UTME. Students are also trained and coached on how to write and pass computer – based UTME (JAMB) Examination.

Lectures are done for 6 days (Monday to Saturday) a week, 10 hours a day. Each lecture day is approximately broken down into morning session (8.00am to 2.00pm) and evening session (2.00pm to 6.00pm). A break period has recently been introduced from 9.50am to 10.20am to enable the Students have something to eat and also ease themselves. Each subject is assigned 3 periods of 2 hours lecture each a week.

Practical lessons for Biology, Chemistry and Physics are arranged such that they do not clash with the theory lessons. The students are handled in groups of 60 students for the practical.

Assessment/Examinations

Assessment of students is under the control of the examination office and therefore Examination Officer of the School. The School assesses student performance in three ways:

1. Continuous Assessment (CA)
2. Practical Assessment (PA), and
3. Final Examinations (FE).

First CA is conducted at the end of the First Semester for all subjects, the Second CA is conducted towards the end of the Second Semester before the final examination (FE), and it is conducted for English Language and Mathematics only. Each CA is marked over 20 marks. The PA, marked over 20 marks, is done on the performance of the student during practical lessons for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The FE is conducted at the end of the Second Semester and is scored over 60 marks.

As from 2017/2018 to date, the school started conducting both the CA and FE as computer-based tests at CBN Prometric Centre, Permanent Site. Currently, the Pass mark is an aggregate score of 200 marks out of a possible 500 marks.

Placement of successful candidates

Students that passed the examinations are placed into various degree programmes of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto by a central committee chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics. Other members of the committee are: The Registrar, Director of the School of Matriculation studies, Director Academic planning, Admissions officer of the University and Examination officer of the School of matriculation studies. The placement is done on the bases of scores obtained by the students and strictly on the quota system of the courses and following the geographical distribution.

Successful candidates are placed into various degree programmes of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, provided they:

• Obtain the minimum pass mark approved by the University from the 5 subjects offered at the school.
• Choose UDUS as first choice in JAMB and have also obtained the required JAMB scores (which is generally determined by JAMB)

Remedy all necessary O-Level deficiencies (for Remedial students)