The Principal of Zuarungu Nursing Training College, Michael Yidana Mantamia, has appealed to government for more infrastructure to improve teaching and learning in the school.
Mr. Yidana disclosed this at the school’s 10th Anniversary celebration at Zuarungu in the Upper East Region on the theme: “Good Health, Sustainability Peace and Discipline; The Role of Stakeholders”
According to Mr. Yidana, the school needs a dining hall complex, an auditorium, an ICT laboratory, and a laboratory equipment.
“The school also needs staff accommodation, a library, clinical sites and an urgent need in getting financial clearance for more lecturers and temporal workers.”
Mr. Yidana echoed the impact of lack of students’ hostel on academic work, saying “90 percent of our students stay out of campus, you can imagine the implications on discipline.”
The college, which started in November 2006 as Health Assistants Clinical (HAC) with 50 students, now has a student population of 906 students, comprising 386 males and 520 females.
The school amidst the numerous challenges, has consistently recorded high pass rate for the past three years, being 96.3% in 2014, 98.6% in 2015, and 99.7% in 2016 respectively.
On his his part, the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Dr. Robert Baba Kuganab-Lem, said government has initiated measures to address some of the challenges of the school, adding that, the contracts have been awarded and very soon the contractors will start work.
“Government is currently funding the construction of 2-storey 12-unit classroom block, a single storey dormitory, dining hall with kitchen, and a mechanized borehole, to provide decent study environment for students and tutors.”
Dr. Kuganab-Lem impressed on trainee nurses, to take advantage of government incentive packages, for health professionals who accept postings to rural and deprived communities.
Dr. Kuganab-Lem admonished trainee nurses to see peace as a pre-requisite for national development and conduct themselves lawfully for a peaceful election in December.
The President of the school’s Student Representative Council (SRC), Awuni Peter, appealed to landlords to reduce the exorbitant rent between GHc40 to GHc70, being charged, adding that, not all students are able to afford.
He also called on government to urgently restore the trainee nurses allowance to support their education.
–
By: Frederick Awuni/Citifmonline.com/Ghana