Authorities in Abia State School of Nursing Umuahia has denied the allegation that admission seekers are being exploited, after which they will be sent out without being offered admission.
A student who spoke with ABN TV last week had alleged that the management of the school under one Mrs. Michael invites admission seekers in excess of slots available in the school.
According to the student, instead of 50 slots allotted for the school, the management will invite about 500 admission seekers and compel them to pay the sum of N500,000 each as school fees.
READ ALSO: Students Of School Of Nursing Umuahia Decry Exploitation, Urges Governor’s Intervention
Refuting the allegation on Monday, an official of the school who pleaded anonymity, because he does not have the permission of the school to speak, said that it is difficult to offer admission to all students who apply to study in the school.
He said the school has only 75 slots recently approved by the National Council of Nursing Services Abuja, an increase from the previous 50.
According to him, admission to the school is competitive and only offered to those who meet the benchmark, stating that different layers to the examination into the school include oral and written interviews. Only those who convincingly pass the two are offered provisional admission.
He said examiners are not officials of the school but those sent in from the National Council of Nursing Services at national and zonal levels. Admission letters he said are issued to those who pass the relevant tests, either in nursing or midwifery from the state Ministry of health.
According to him, the students are subjected to another test known as Preliminary Training School (PTS) after six months which qualifies them as full nursing students.
He said about 300 people who sit for admission exams will not be admitted in a slot of 75 students, urging those who are unable to secure admission to try again.
He also denied the allegation that students pay the sum of N500,000, saying the total cost of levies is N215,000 only.
He added that there is competition among admission seekers because a lot of persons are coming in from neighbouring states to seek admission in the School of Nursing Umuahia because it is relatively cheap compared with other states.
He insists there is no exploitation in the school, urging the public to ignore to rumour.
