Ministry Sets New Admission Requirements for Nursing, Other Health-Related Certificate Courses
According to the Ministry, the decision to revise the admission criteria was primarily driven by the new lower secondary curriculum and subsequent updates to the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) grading system.
The Ministry of Education and Sports has developed new admission requirements for nursing, midwifery, and other health-related certificate and diploma programs.
According to the Ministry, the decision to revise the admission criteria was primarily driven by the new lower secondary curriculum and subsequent updates to the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) grading system.
“The decision to review was particularly centered on UNEB scores under the new lower secondary curriculum,” stated the Ministry in a recent document signed by Dr. Safinah Kisu Musene, Commissioner for Health Education, and Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, the Permanent Secretary.
According to the new standards obtained by our reporter, Senior Four leavers who wish to pursue nursing and other health related certificate programs must have obtained at least a C in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, along with at least a D in Mathematics and English.
Under the updated grading system, an ‘A’ represents exceptional achievement, ‘B’ signifies outstanding performance, ‘C’ is for satisfactory performance, ‘D’ indicates basic proficiency, and ‘E’ is elementary. This means that applicants must have at least satisfactory performance in core subjects and basic proficiency in Mathematics and English to qualify for admission.
In addition to the academic requirements, applicants must be at least 18 years old and demonstrate good physical and mental fitness, as clinical certificate programs typically span two and a half years.
The updated admission requirements apply to seven programs, including Certificates in Nursing, Midwifery, Medical Laboratory Science, Pharmacy, Theatre Technology, Environmental Health, and Psychiatric Nursing.
These programs will be offered at accredited institutions and assessed by the newly established Uganda Health Professionals Assessment Board (UHPAB). The UHPAB was formed through the merger of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board (UNMEB) and the Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board (UAHEB), as required by the recently passed TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training) Act.
Previously, candidates applying for nursing and midwifery certificate courses were required to have passed at least five core subjects—Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, English, and Biology—along with being at least 18 years old, physically fit, and free from any major disabilities.
With the new academic requirements, however, the bar has been raised slightly. Now, students must demonstrate satisfactory performance in these core subjects to be eligible for admission into health-related courses.
With the new changes, diploma programs will now require applicants to hold a certificate in a relevant health training discipline. However, the applicant must have met the minimum entry requirements at the time of joining the certificate program. This measure aims to prevent cases where students who did not meet Uganda’s admission standards gain entry into certificate programs in other jurisdictions and later return to pursue diploma studies in Uganda.
That said, students who completed their Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) under the phased-out curriculum, if any, will still be considered for admission based on the previous entry requirements.
Commenting on the matter, Dr Musene said that the updated standards aim to align with the evolving educational structure and ensure that students entering health programs meet the necessary academic qualifications. she added that they were arrived at after thorough consultation from the stakeholders.
