Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has assured to consider the demand of management to increase the fees for BSC nursing courses run by self-financing colleges. Private and government-aided colleges are currently charging a tuition fee of Rs 73,025 and a special fee of Rs 19,000 for both merit and management seats. The annual fee in government colleges is Rs 22,000.
The Health Department has directed the Nursing College Management Association to submit suggestions for the fee hike. The decision in this regard was taken during talks held by APM Mohammed Hanish, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, with representatives of the Association.
The government will allow 30% of MSc Nursing students to work as faculty in the same college, following the Indian Nursing Council's decision in this regard. Also, an entrance test will be held for BSc Nursing admission from next academic year onwards, as agreed in the discussions.
The government will consider the demand of the management that the Kerala Nursing Council (KNC) and the Health University should not intervene in determining the salaries of employees, including teachers.
While asking the government to fix the salaries, the management pointed out that neither the universities nor the higher education council normally play any role in determining the salary in the college education sector.
‘Separate inspections result in financial burden’
Meanwhile, the government approved the management's demand for a joint inspection by the Health University and the Nursing Council. They argued that separate examinations are causing them additional financial burdens. The management further asked the authorities not to include General Council members in the ‘Inspection Committee’ formed by the KNC.
The management complains that unnecessary interventions are being made at the time of the inspections. The government is allotting seats in the ratio of one nursing student for every three patients. However, during inspections held at short notice, this proportion couldn’t be fully adhered to. It’s not right that two institutions functioning under the government reduce the seats allotted by the latter, they argued.
The Principal Secretary promised that a solution to the issues would be reached by amending the Nurses and Midwives Act of 1953.