Minister Joseph Dion Ngute has lifted the ban on admissions into Health and
Biomedical Sciences programs at the Higher National Diploma (HND) level. This decision opens the doors for both public and private higher education institutions to once again enroll students in these critical fields.
The Prime Minister's directive, which emerged from a joint inter-ministerial meeting on November 28, 2024, aimed to address the confusion caused by a previous decision that had suspended HND admissions and placed paramedical training solely under the Ministry of Public Health.
Acknowledging implementation challenges
with this earlier directive, officials revisited the issue and issued new guidelines.
Under the revised policy, institutions can now admit students at Level I for the
2024/2025 academic year, following guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public
Health. Levels 2 and 3 training programs will continue under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education. To maintain oversight, an aptitude test will be conducted at the conclusion of training, with the Ministry of Public Health retaining
authority over health care authorizations for private higher education institutions.
The decision has reignited the hopes of aspiring students who had shelved their dreams of pursuing careers in nursing, midwifery, medical laboratory sciences, and
related fields. One student expressed relief at the news, stating, "I had given up hope of following my aspirations, but this decision changes everything." While many private institution promoters welcomed the decision, some remain cautious about lingering uncertainties.
The abrupt ban imposed just before the academic year caused widespread disruptions, leaving institutions grappling with uncertainty. The delay in rescinding the policy had a ripple effect on the 2024/2025 academic calendar. With some
institutions already announcing the resumption of admissions into Health and Biomedical Sciences programs, this recent government action provides much-needed clarity and resolution to a situation that had created confusion and instability in the education sector.
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