The Union of Trainee Nurses and Midwives Ghana (UTNMG) has welcomed the government’s decision to absorb 50% of tuition fees for trainee nurses in the 2025/2026 academic year but is calling for further clarity and broader support for students nationwide.
In a statement, the union described the fee intervention as commendable but raised questions about the total tuition structure and how much students are expected to pay under the new arrangement.
“We wish to know the total tuition fee amount before the 50% absorption and the agreed fee structure between government and principals of training institutions, to enable students and parents to plan appropriately,” the statement read.
UTNMG also urged the government to confirm whether continuing students in levels 200 and 300 will benefit from the policy, emphasizing that equitable relief measures should extend to all trainee nurses.
Beyond tuition, the union raised concerns over feeding fees, currently set at GHS 1,800 per semester, and requested that the government absorb part of this cost to ease financial burdens on parents and guardians.
The union further pressed authorities to provide financial clearance for the 2020 referral batch in the upcoming 2026 budget, noting that students had waited too long for clarity on their placements.
Addressing the ongoing debate over the possible cancellation of the Nurse Assistant Preventive (NAP) and Nurse Assistant Clinical (NAC) programs, UTNMG demanded an official public statement from the government, stressing that the matter has serious implications for both students and the profession.
The union also reminded authorities of allowance arrears owed to the 2024 batch of trainees currently undergoing national service, urging prompt payment.
Expressing frustration over the lack of dialogue, UTNMG noted that repeated attempts to engage the Ministry of Health had been unsuccessful.
“We therefore use this statement to renew our call on the Ministry and all relevant authorities to engage with us in good faith for the collective interest of trainee nurses and midwives across the country,” the union added.
Source – My News Ghana
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