The People’s Progressive Party sees no justifiable reason for the 250 student nurses to have their careers put on the line on the basis of a mere suspicion of leaked examination papers.
Some of the nursing students protesting the situation
Party General Secretary Clement Rohee told a news conference on Monday that there was no evidence of an incontrovertible nature that would require the student nurses to resit the exams.
“We should not convert suspicions into fact and that is what I believe the problem is,” he stated.
Rohee said the situation was disastrous and expressed empathy with those students who are disinclined to sit another set of examinations.
In this regard, he called upon the Public Health Ministry and the Guyana Nursing Council (GNC) to resolve the matter speedily in the interest of the student nurses, whose professionalism is on the line. Nursing students were recently protesting over the Nursing Council’s decision for them to retake the final exams after it was discovered that the papers were compromised. Following the intervention by the Public Health Ministry, Police launched an investigation into the matter to determine the extent of the breach. Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton explained that based on the results of the probe, it would be determined if the situation warranted the retaking of the examinations or the need to pursue alternatives to decide whether or not the student nurses were successful in their studies.
However, if it comes down to having to retake the examinations, the Minister said a decision would have to be made regarding which organisation would spearhead the initiative.
He explained if the Nursing Council was found to be greatly corrupt, then an independent body would have to set the papers while efforts were made to revamp the GNC.
Asked about possible penalties for those found culpable, the Minister said that was up to the courts to decide.
