The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of interference in admissions into nursing training colleges in the country.
The NDC MPs argue the decision by the government to direct principals of the colleges of education to admit only 50 percent of their capabilities as a result of payment of allowances will further compound the problem of inadequate health workers in the country.
Addressing the media in Parliament on Monday, the Minority spokesperson on health, Kwabena Minta Akandoh asked government to immediately withdraw the directive together with a request for the principals to cede 30 percent of admissions to the government.
“This we believe is a recipe for the unbridled corruption that has recently characterized all admissions into government institutions be it the police service, military recruitment, teacher training schools and now nursing training colleges.
The ranking member stated that the move must not be allowed to continue.
“Per official communications from the Ministry of Health to nursing training colleges, colleges are now restricted to admit no more than 50% of their capacities. Underlying this restrictive admission directive is government’s inability to back its manifesto promise with the financial commitment required.
“These restrictions on intake into Nursing training colleges smacks of policy incoherence and pure insensitivity. How can government claim to be improving access to nursing training by giving trainee allowances and on the other hand institute restrictive quotas to reduce same admissions by over 50%?? Mr. Akando quizzed.
Mr. Akando indicated that is it insensitive to implement a Free SHS policy that is expected to increase SHS graduates and then restrict access to tertiary education in nursing training colleges.
“As we speak, first year students of Nursing Training Colleges are yet to receive their trainee allowances exposing the duplicity and dishonesty behind government’s noisemaking and propaganda.
“Although government’s quotas relating to admission of nursing trainees at the various nursing training schools is not new to the Akufo-Addo government, the new set of administrative directives emanating from the Ministry of Health if left unchecked will be disastrous going into the future considering the current high attrition among health personnel.
“In June this year the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) alerted the country of the fact that as of 1st June 2022, over 3,000 nurses and midwives have left the country to seek greener pastures abroad. Under this high attrition situation, one would ask if it therefore makes sense for government to maintain bottlenecks to nursing training just so it can claim to be fulfilling a pledge, we all know it is not fulfilling.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
