Masaka nursing school bows to pressure, lifts exam registration fees deadline

The administration of Masaka School of Registered Comprehensive Nursing has bowed to students’ pressure and lifted the registration fees deadline.

 The announcement has been made by the school principal, Mark Kalanzi while meeting students at the school main hall on Friday.

On Thursday, the students went on strike protesting poor quality of meals and tight deadline set to clear examination registration fees. Through the school administration, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board (UNMEB) had given all students up to April 20 to pay Shs120,000  for exams, a  decision the  students protested.

The guild speaker, Stephen Katabazi said they were happy that the administration had lifted the deadline for exam registration but they are still pushing for improvement of the student’s general welfare.

 He said they had agreed to call off the strike and resume their services at Masaka regional referral hospital as they wait for the school administration to improve their meals and address other challenges they are facing.

“We are happy to receive the communication that the exam registration deadline has been lifted and registration is still open up to next week. It’s a relief to many students whose parents had not yet paid the money,” Katabazi said.

He advised his fellow students to report back to classes starting next week because the teaching staff have showed commitment that they will resume lectures on Monday.

The Guild Secretary, Ms Joweria Nakirigya said the administration has also responded to the students’ concern of poor meals by procuring a new stock of beans, posho and sugar.

 She said that the administration has also promised to serve good meals and special meals will be served during weekends.

“We have accepted to give the administration a benefit of doubt. We will not hesitate to resume our strike if the promises made are not fulfilled,” She said   

Mr Kalanzi urged students to convince their parents to pay in time to avoid inconveniences at the eleventh hour.

“Issues of examination fees are beyond us, but we have asked students who have not yet secured the money to approach my office to be cleared for registration until the end of next week as we plead with the line ministry and the permanent secretary to see if the deadline can be extended,” he said.

He insisted that the issue of meals should not bother students anymore because they have procured good quality food.

“I was surprised to hear poor meals as one of your concerns. Anyway this is going to be worked upon and the quality of meals will continue to improve with time,” Kalanzi he added.