Men shun midwifery course, says Unmeb
Light moment. Education minister Janet Museveni chats with nurses and midwives during the release of results for the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board last year. PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA
What you need to know:
- The Unmeb chairperson, Ms Mariam Walusimbi, was concerned that two nursing programmes of Diploma in Peadiatric and Child Health Nursing and Diploma in Public Health Nursing were not attracting students.
- Only 28.6 per cent of the candidates who sat the examinations were male students.
KAMPALA. The Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board (Unmeb) yesterday reported an improved overall performance in last year’s national certificate and diploma examinations.
Ms Helen Mukakarisa, the Unmeb executive secretary, said 4,198 of the 5,007 candidates who appeared for the 2017 certificate exams passed, representing 83.6 per cent passed compared to 3,087 (79.1 per cent) who passed the exams in 2016. This presents a 4.5 percentage points improvement.
At the diploma level, 1,760 students were presented and 92.7 per cent passed, with 45 candidates scoring distinctions while another 1,398 (79.4 per cent) obtained credits and 190 candidates (10.8 per cent) scored pass, the minimum pass grade.
It was unfortunate for 117 diploma students who were ungraded as six students were referred after they were convicted of being involved in malpractice. There were also two sick students who did not appear for the examination.
A total of 16 students on both certificate and diploma courses were de-registered for joining the courses illegally.
“At least 92.8 per cent passed the November 2017 diploma examinations compared to 80.3 per cent. There are some students who were registered in error by training institutions while others hadn’t accomplished all requirements for eligible candidates,” Ms Mukakarisa said.
Dr Chrysostom Muyingo, the State minister for Higher Education, expressed worry that some institutions admit students who do not qualify and ordered the Business, Technical and Vocational Education Training commissioner, Hajat Safinah Kisu Museene, to investigate the matter and report to him within a month.
The Unmeb chairperson, Ms Mariam Walusimbi, was concerned that two nursing programmes of Diploma in Peadiatric and Child Health Nursing and Diploma in Public Health Nursing were not attracting students.
Dr Muyingo asked the Nurses and Midwifery Council to revisit the policy that bans male students from taking midwifery courses to encourage more male students on the course.
Only 28.6 per cent of the candidates who sat the examinations were male students.
Dr Muyingo asked the graduates to understand what the market needs, prove that they are employable and be the best at the skills they have acquired in order to outcompete their colleagues in the East African Community.
