Masaka nursing school roots for degree courses

What you need to know:

  • On funding, Mr Ssempala said the ministry is stuck with the challenge of low wage bill, but they would raise the matter with the Ministry of Public Service so that the school can be helped to address the challenge of staff salaries.
    At least 252 students were passed out after completing their diploma studies

Masaka. The management of Masaka School of Comprehensive Nursing and Midwifery has asked the Ministry of Education to expedite the process of clearing the institution to start offering degree programmes.

Mr Mark Kalanzi, the principal, said Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) senate has already allowed them to affiliate with the university and start offering the degree courses.

“The top management at MUST made a site visit and when the university senate looked at their findings, they approved the affiliation status, what remains is the Ministry of Education to clear us to offer degree courses,” he said during the institution’s 6th graduation ceremony at the weekend.

Mr Kalanzi said many students who complete their diploma courses in midwifery and nursing cannot upgrade because Masaka Sub-region lacks a degree-awarding institution in both disciplines.
He also asked government to increase funding to the school.

“For the last 10 years, our resource envelope has remained the same yet the number of students has grown and there is a need to expand the institution and hire more tutors,” Mr Kalanzi said.
Currently, the school has only 13 tutors teaching more than 300 students and only seven are on government payroll.

“We thank government for its continued support, but we request that the number of tutors, who are posted here is commensurate with our increasing enrollment,” the principal added.
Mr Kalanzi said the school charges high fees so that they can raise money to pay staff.
Dr Joseph Mugisha, the school chairperson of the governing council, asked the Masaka hospital administration to give the school a piece of land to enable it expand.

He warned nurses against mistreating patients since they also want to be treated well when they fall sick.
Mr Patrick Ssempala, the principal education officer, who represented the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Alex Kakooza, asked the graduates to register with the various respective councils so that they can be allowed to operate as nurses and midwives.

Mr Ssempala urged graduates to seek more qualifications and knowledge in their field of work.
“On the issue of awarding degrees, I am going to discuss that with the ministry top management and I am sure they will not hesitate to give you a go ahead,” he said.

On funding, Mr Ssempala said the ministry is stuck with the challenge of low wage bill, but they would raise the matter with the Ministry of Public Service so that the school can be helped to address the challenge of staff salaries.
At least 252 students were passed out after completing their diploma studies.

About school

Masaka School of Comprehensive Nursing and Midwifery is a government-founded health training institution in Katwe–Butego, a Masaka town suburb and is adjacent to Masaka hospital. The school was established in 1946. In 1966, it started training certificate nurses, but it closed. It later reopened to teach certificate in comprehensive nursing. Currently, the school trains diploma students in comprehensive nursing, diploma in midwifery and general nursing.