Tension and heartbreak gripped Iseyin as students of Iseyin College of Health and Technology (ISCOTECH) poured into the streets in protest over allegations that several of the institution’s courses are not accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
According to the students, the affected courses include Public Health, Dental, Pharmacy, and Medical Laboratory Technician, programmes they claimed they were admitted into, paid full tuition for, and have spent years studying, only to be confronted with uncertainty about their academic future.
The protest, largely driven by students in 200 and 300 levels, was marked by emotional outbursts, as many voiced fears that their certificates could be rendered worthless. Among the places protested to are the secretariat of Iseyin Local Government, Aseyin’s Palace and the town’s main market.
ISCOTECH’s Protesting Students
Addressing residents during the demonstration, some students accused the institution’s proprietor, Owoseni, of jeopardising not only their futures but also the reputation of the host community.
“You allowed the proprietor to establish a school in your town. I came from Saki, others came from different parts of the country. Now, the proprietor is about to destroy your town,” a lady protester declared.
Another student, Eniola Ezekiel, alleged widespread financial irregularities and lack of due process in fee collection.
“We are protesting because students were admitted into unaccredited courses. He is collecting money indiscriminately. Without notice, the proprietor can just wake up and order a certain amount of money like N30,000, to be paid. These payments are not made through any official portal; they are done in cash through class representatives who then deliver the money to the school authority,” Ezekiel said.
He further claimed that students were recently informed they might not be eligible to sit for professional board examinations, deepening fears about the legitimacy of their studies.
Similarly, Ajanaku Omotola recounted what she described as misleading admission promises.
“I came from Lagos. They told us it was a scholarship. They brought forms, said we would study Public Health Nursing for three years. But when we got here, we discovered there is nothing like Public Health Nursing in the school, only Public Health, and Public Health Nursing is meant for registered nurses,” she said.
Omotola added that her admission was processed remotely, with forms filled and admission sent to her phone, raising further concerns about the institution’s procedures.
“What we want is for NBTE to accredit this school. As it stands, we are just wasting our time here,” she lamented.
Another student, identified simply as Olayiwola, accused the school of deception.
“They lied to us that the school and its courses are accredited. They have been collecting money from us,” he said.
Despite the gravity of the allegations including exploitation from their landlords and landladies, the protest remained largely peaceful, drawing attention from residents and stakeholders within the community.
The students are demanding immediate clarification from the institution’s management, proper accreditation of all programmes, and assurances that their years of academic effort will not be rendered futile. They also called the Oyo State Government to close down the institution pending when its statutory status will be determined..
As uncertainty looms, the aggrieved students call for swift intervention by relevant authorities to investigate the claims, restore confidence, and safeguard the academic futures of the affected students, many of whom say they now live with the painful fear that their dreams may have been built on a fragile foundation.
