Question NW2711 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
30 September 2022 - NW2711
Zondo, Mr S S to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Considering the addition of specialised medical occupations such as chemists, specialist nurse educators, anaesthesiologists and dentists to the critical skills list, in addition to the Republic’s shortage of doctors and nurses, what is the reason that he is not prioritising the establishment of colleges to absorb more medical students?
Reply:
In 2011, the Minister of Health appointed a Ministerial Task Team on Nursing Education and Training following the National Nursing Summit of April 2011. The Ministerial Task Team report, which was finalised in August 2012, made several recommendations, including that nursing colleges be declared as higher education institutions in compliance with the Constitution and provisions of the Higher Education Act (101 of 1997, as amended). The Ministerial Task Team also recommended that while nursing education and training should be regarded as a national competence, it should account to the Director-General of Health, rather than Higher Education and Training.
The priority at the time was to align the nursing qualifications to the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework.
The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation has designated that the 10 public Nursing Colleges and 9 public Emergency Medical Services Colleges can offer qualifications on the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework leading to Certificates, Diplomas and Bachelor’s degrees until such time as they are declared an institutional type contemplated in the Higher Education Act. These qualifications must be accredited by the Council on Higher Education and registered by the South African Qualifications Authority on the National Qualifications Framework.