University degrees from Post Basic Nursing School

Nadira Gunatilleke

Nurses will be able to obtain university degrees through the Post Basic Nursing School in Colombo soon, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, the school will be upgraded as an affiliated faculty of the University of Colombo. Nurses who enter this new faculty can follow degrees equivalent to state university degrees. The Post Basic Nursing School will follow the same university entrance procedure as that of other universities when offering admission to nurses.

"A special committee has been set up with the representation of the University Grant Commission (UGC), the Higher Education Ministry and Health Ministry to formulate the syllabus, look into outstanding matters and with regard to other procedures. The degree course will be four years in duratiion, " he said.

"A special discussion on this project was held yesterday with Health minister Maithripala Sirisena, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake, University Grant Commission Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake, Ministry Secretaries and other high officials attached to the three institutions presiding,' he added.