Circular 11/2023 INTAKE OF STUDENTS BY NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS FROM ONE PROGRAMME TO ANOTHER, PRIOR TO WRITING THE PROFESSIONAL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
CIRCULAR 11/2023
TO: NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH
NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (NEIs)
ALL STAKEHOLDERS
SUBJECT: INTAKE OF STUDENTS BY NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS FROM ONE PROGRAMME TO ANOTHER, PRIOR TO WRITING THE PROFESSIONAL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
- PURPOSE
The purpose of this Circular is to share with the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and relevant stakeholders about the decision of the Council regarding the practice of intake of students by the NEIs from one programme to another, prior to writing the Professional Entry Examination (PEE).
- BACKGROUND
2.1 In terms of Section 4(1)(c) of the Nursing Act,2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005), the South African Nursing Council (SANC) must conduct the examinations, appoint Examiners and Moderators and grant certificates in respect of such examinations.
2.2 The examinations that were conducted by the SANC for the legacy Nursing Qualifications are coming to an end on 30th November 2023. In this regard, the SANC issued Circular 14/2020 on 20 December 2020 and indicated that students who are enrolled for the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework-(HEQSF)-aligned Nursing Qualifications will be required to write and pass the PEE on completion of education and training before their names are entered in the SANC Nurse Register.
2.3 The SANC introduced the PEE in May 2021 and the first group that wrote the PEE was the student nurses who enrolled for the Higher Certificate in Nursing.
2.4 Section 4(1)(3) of the Government Notice No 195 of 2008 as amended, stipulates that the Registrar must register an applicant whose application complies with the requirements of sub regulation (1) and (2) with effect from the last day of the month in which the accredited programme was successfully completed, hence the applicants who met the requirements for the HEQSF-aligned nursing qualifications will be registered at the end of the month in which the PEE was successfully completed.
2.5 The NEIs raised concerns that the SANC does not allow students to access one programme to another prior to writing the PEE. Their concerns are reasonable; however, this will be in contradiction with Section 2.4 above. The qualification must either be terminated or be completed before access to another programme. The SANC is hopeful that these challenges will be addressed when the months in which the examination is written are further increased so that the students are not affected. In future all the examination processes will be fast tracked when online examination system is implemented.
- COUNCIL RESOLUTION
3.1 The Council at its ordinary meeting held on 13-14 July 2023, resolved not to approve the practice of intake of learners by the NEIs from one programme to another prior to writing the Professional Entrance Examination.
- IMPLICATIONS
4.1 The Council resolution will not be applicable to the students who apply for termination before accessing other nursing programmes OR other fields of study, e.g., medicine. The students are allowed direct entry to other nursing programmes if they meet the admission requirements without writing the PEE.
4.2 Once the student has opted to terminate and pursue other programmes besides the one which she was enrolled for, the student cannot return to write the PEE and expect that the registration date will be the last day of the month in which the accredited previous programme was successfully completed. This will create a clash of dates for registration. It will also be viewed as if the student commenced the new programme without passing the previous programme.
4.3 The SANC will not enter any student nurse to the SANC Nurse Register before the PEE has been written and passed.
4.4 The SANC will not issue a verification of qualification and a letter of good standing for the student nurse who did not write and pass the PEE, but who is interested in migrating to other countries.
4.5 Nurses who are enrolled for Postgraduate studies are not affected by this Circular.
4.6 This Circular should be brought to the attention of all students.
- IMPLEMENTATION
This Circular becomes implementable and valid from the date of issue. For further information in respect of this Circular you are advised to contact Ms SJ Nxumalo: Deputy Registrar at (012) 420 1059 or on e-mail jnxumalo@sanc.co.za OR Ms MA Mnguni, Senior Manager: Learner Affairs at 012 420 1065 or amnguni@sanc.co.za.
_______________________
PROF NG MTSHALI
REGISTRAR AND CEO
SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL
DATE: ___________________
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