Extortion Rocks Nursing Colleges: …Final Year Students Forced to Pay Hefty Sums to NMC invigilators
News Desk Report:
A widespread extortion practices have been uncovered in various Nursing and Midwifery colleges across Ghana.
Final year students are allegedly coerced into paying substantial amounts, ranging from Ghc800 to Ghc1000 per student, purportedly to support external invigilators and examiners from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
According to sources, this collection of funds has become a customary practice every year in these colleges, raising concerns about its impact on the examination process’s credibility.
The funds are said to cover accommodation, feeding, transportation, and motivation for external invigilators and examiners overseeing the final examinations of trainees.
However, there are suspicions that these payments may be aimed at compromising examination standards.
In some colleges, particularly in food basket areas, portions of the collected amounts are allegedly diverted to purchase foodstuffs, fish, goats, and even provide “fuel cash” to invigilators.
Information gathered from Atibie, Krachi, and Koforidua Nursing Midwifery colleges in particular that these levies are enforced at the behest of the management of the colleges.
Expressing discontent, a final year student stated, “This is too much. In our school, we are close to 300, so imagine everyone paying Ghc1000. What are they using the money for? Isn’t taking care of external invigilators part of the hefty registration fee we paid? This is not fair.”
Another student revealed, “Initially, they demanded Ghc1000, but after complaints, they reduced it to Ghc800. They are forcing everyone to pay, threatening that anyone who fails to pay will be denied access to sit for the practical examination.”
Further source,gathered that during the previous year, an invigilator from KNUST rejected a financial gift presented by a college in Volta Region confirming suspicions that the levy is possibly illegal.
Final year students in various accredited Nursing and Midwifery colleges are set to complete their licensing examinations this week.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council conducts these examinations for qualifications as Nurse Assistants, Nurses, and Midwives.
As these allegations raise concerns about the fairness of the examination process, it becomes imperative for the relevant authorities to investigate and address the issue promptly, ensuring the integrity of licensing examinations for nursing and midwifery personnel in Ghana.
Responses to this worrying situations not forthcoming after several attempts.
In 2020, when similar allegations surfaced, the NMC condemned it and warned to sanction anyone found culpable.
However the practice continues