Nursing students at the Yendi College of Health Sciences in Ghana have expressed concerns that they are being denied access to their skills laboratory, which is crucial for their practical training. The students claim that the laboratory is often locked when they need to practice for their practical examinations, leaving them with limited opportunities to apply the skills they learn in the classroom. This situation has raised fears that their preparation for professional nursing may be compromised.
According to Abdul Mumin Mohammed, Vice-President of the Students' Representative Council (SRC), the facility is routinely inaccessible to students, who are sometimes told that management does not want the laboratory to be disorganized. Mr. Mohammed questioned the purpose of having a skills laboratory if students cannot access it when needed, emphasizing that practical training is essential for their profession. He highlighted that nursing students typically require hands-on experience to reinforce their theoretical knowledge.
The students' concerns are further exacerbated by the comparison with other nursing training institutions, where students have more opportunities to practice in hospitals and interact with real patients. Mr. Mohammed noted that, unlike their peers in other institutions, Yendi College students rely on dummies for practice, which may not provide the same level of realism and responsiveness. This limited exposure could leave graduates less prepared to deal with patients during licensing examinations and in clinical settings.
In addition to the skills laboratory issue, the students also raised concerns about the conditions in some lecture halls. Broken fans have left students struggling with the heat, particularly during the hottest periods, making learning uncomfortable. The SRC Vice-President for Women's Affairs, Wunimi Mabel, added that poor sanitation and inadequate meals are affecting students' welfare and learning on campus. She claimed that the college lacks laborers to maintain the school environment, leading to students undertaking tasks such as weeding and sweeping.
The SRC President, Napari Benjamin, raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the management of students' fees. He stated that the fees had increased from GH¢3,815 in the previous semester to GH¢4,663 in the current semester, but management had not provided a detailed breakdown of the charges. According to him, management cited a directive from the Ministry of Health to justify not releasing the itemized bill. Mr. Napari argued that this lack of transparency has created uncertainty over the charges, particularly among scholarship students.
The students also expressed concerns about GH¢490 paid by students in the 2024 intake upon admission, which was supposed to be used for school cloth, medical screening, and scrubs but had not been returned in the form of the promised items. The Principal of the college, Hussein Abubakari Abdul-Karim, has denied the students' allegations, describing them as fabrications. He claimed that the skills laboratory is open at all times and that students had participated in practical sessions recently as part of field outreach programs.
The Principal also addressed concerns about classroom conditions, stating that some lecture halls are air-conditioned, and dismissed claims that students endure excessive heat. Regarding the fees, he said the charges are based on a directive from the Ghana Health Service. The students' concerns highlight the need for improvements in the college's facilities and the management of students' fees to ensure that students receive adequate training and support.
Key points
- Nursing students at Yendi College of Health Sciences face restricted access to their skills laboratory.
- Students express concerns over poor classroom conditions and inadequate meals.
- There are allegations of a lack of transparency in the management of students' fees.
