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DENOSA warns communities about illegal training of phased out nursing programmes by some SANC-accredited private nursing institutions
MEDIA STATEMENT
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) warns communities about continuous illegal intake and training of the phased out Enrolled nursing programmes (Enrolled nurse and Enrolled Nursing Auxiliary) by certain previously SANC accredited private nursing institutions throughout the country and urges those who may be victims to make affidavits and report those institutions with the regulatory body for nursing, the South African Nursing Council (SANC).
DENOSA would like to alert and call for a robust awareness campaign to the nursing profession, healthcare leaders and community members about illegal and fraudulent practices of previously South African Nursing Council (SANC)-accredited nursing education institutions (NEI) that continue to admit students for these programmes and some Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authorities (HWSETA)- related programmes.
1. Illegal training of phased out nursing legacy courses
1.1 The SANC circular 13 of 2014, dated 14 September 2014 state that the SANC board resolved to DISCONTINUE offering of certain nursing qualifications from 1st July 2015; was sent out to the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEI) (includes both private and public Nursing colleges and schools) and all other stakeholders(Refer www.sanc.co.za). The resolution referred to thefollowing Legacy Nursing Qualifications, paving the way for the implementation of the New Nursing Qualifications:
· The Course Leading to Enrolment as a Nurse (Government Notice No. R.2175 of 19 November 1993 as amended) - NQF level 4.
· The Course Leading to Enrolment as a Nursing Auxiliary (Government Notice No. R.2176 of 19 November 1993 as amended- NQF level 3
The END date of ENROLMENT for the Legacy Nursing Qualifications was 30 June 2015, with a teach-out period as prescribed by South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
1.2 The Council further resolved that the prospective NEIs who wish to offer NEW qualifications (Higher Certificate: Auxiliary Nurse; Government Notice No. R.169 of 8 March 2013(NQF Level 5) and Diploma in Nursing: Staff Nurse; Government Notice No. R.171 of 8 March 2013) NQF Level 6 must apply to:
· Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in order to obtain a registration certificate and number
· South African Nursing Council (SANC) and submit the programmes in order to get endorsement letter from SANC
· Council on Higher Education (CHE) and submit the programmes for accreditation.
NB**: This circular was cited that: “it becomes implementable on the date of its issue”.
1.3 Furthermore the SANC put out a notice in the Government Gazette in October 2015 that clearly confirmed that the Course Leading to Enrolment as a Nurse (Government Notice No. R.2175 of 19 November 1993 as amended) and the Course Leading to Enrolment as Nursing Auxiliary (Government Notice No. R.2176 of 19 November 1993 as amended) will be discontinued.
The purpose was to inform all stakeholders about the date on which the offering of these two legacy nursing courses will be DISCONTINUED. These two significant communiqué meant that SANC will no longer register students for training, examinations and practice and NEI accredited for the two courses stated here in should no longer recruit, train and place new students for theory and clinical placements (practical in accredited state hospitals, clinics, hospice and old age homes). It is not clear if the ordinary masses of South Africa were informed and how were they informed.
2. DENOSA has been inundated with complaints and requests for interventions from students who discovered that they cannot write the November 2016 SANC examination. The DENOSA Professional Conduct officials, Gauteng provincial organizers interrogated the students who cited the main concerns as:
2.1 Inability to acquire their qualifications after a full academic year with full attendance of classes, over 50% continuous assessment marks, completion of over 1000 clinical hours and full payment (about R60 000 per student towards tuition fees, accommodation and transport to various clinical facilities (public hospitals, clinic, private facilities and old age homes) in full.
2.2 Illegitimate and worthless teaching and learning of students outside the standard prescripts of registration as students on training and exposure to clinical environment with no proper authorization and indemnity - This is serious because it means students who are not registered with SANC are allowed to care for patients, and thus placing the health and lives of patients to unnecessary risk and SANC will never recognize and register this candidates on the Council register.
2.3. Irregular practice and non- compliance with the assessment policies and principles as outlined in the SANC Regulations and by the South African Qualification Authority.
2.4 Pre mature termination of training without due fair procedures and processes.
2.5 Unethical practices where potential students contribute monthly whilst not yet on training in order to secure a space to train in two to more years to come (from 2017 upwards) although they do not meet the entry requirements of the NEW Nursing qualifications (Grade 12 with Life Sciences, English, Arithmetic Literacy/ Mathematics, Computer literacy (NQF 3).
This translates to a gross violation of their human rights; students are defrauded of their hard-earned money and are misled. The emotional trauma, loss of possible income and time that parents, students, community of South Africa is suffering under the name of Nursing is part of our advocacy as DENOSA.
DENOSA therefore appeals for social justice and mediation to:
· The Department of Health National and Provincial to investigate these practices urgently as some of the hospitals where these students acquire practicals are public hospitals.
· The South African Nursing Council to publicize the closure of these programmes urgently in this regard and establish an investigation collaborating with law enforcement agencies, organized labour, Department of Health and civil society at large.
· The affected students and parents to submit affidavits with evidence to the SANC, Health Ombudsman so that an extensive investigation be initiated urgently in order to strengthen the SANC CODE OF ETHICS FOR NURSING PRACTITIONERS IN SOUTH AFRICA, the positive actions of nurses in line with the Regulations on Rules Setting Out the Acts or Omissions in Respect of Which the Council May Take Disciplinary Steps (Government Regulations 387 of 1985 as amended) and the Constitution of South Africa.
· The SANC to drive a robust awareness campaign in collaboration with members of the QUAD (DENOSA, CNO and FUNDISA) civil society and political leaders to support this awareness and save our community from possible fraudsters now that the successful matriculated students will be exploring post- school education.
It very sad and disturbing that one such nursing institutions was alleged to be Nicole Nursing School in Soshanguve, whose students are not registered by SANC, thus will never write the SANC examination and will never be recognized as nurses. It is further stated that there are already students paying for the 2016, 2018 intakes and are continuing to pay monthly towards these reserved spaces. Most of these students come from rural areas around South Africa and who are unaware of the changes in the Nursing profession.
DENOSA would like to caution parents and students who are doing matric this year to be aware of this and not register their children for the old legacy Enrolled Nurse and Enrolled Nursing Auxiliary courses at any NEI. We call on all community leaders, students and nurses any other organisations to spread this message as more children could be affected even in months to come.
Part 2
The offering of Pre- Nursing by non SANC accredited and SANC accredited Nursing schools.
DENOSA warns members of the community about providers who recruit and train community members on courses with misleading names such as Pre- Nursing course/. The office has received complaints from students, community members and parents who state that some of the HWSETA-accredited and some SANC-accredited education institutions admit students stating that they will be guaranteed entry into a nursing programme only if they have successfully completed a Pre-Nursing course. These providers offer the HWSETA-accredited such as Ancillary, Community Health care programmes as Pre-Nursing courses.
The SANC website has posted a communication which warns community members against such misleading practices by illegal institutions offering illegal programmes by education institutions in South Africa. These institutions entice innocent community members charging exorbitant fees of over R15 000 per annum which most of the time does not ensure that they are employed. SANC further re- iterated that “there is no provision for such programmes in the Nursing Act, 2005 or in its regulations and no such guarantee and in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005, it is a criminal offence for someone to operate such an institution or to offer such a programme”.
DENOSA wish to support the call from the SANC to all affected community members to submit affidavits with full details to the SANC to report such institutions so that justice may be served through a proper investigation process where the support of the South African Police Services (SAPS) is sought in closing down the institution or programme.
If you are aware of any institution that you think may be operating illegally or providing an illegal programme, please send full details to the Council so that the facts can be checked and further damage is prevented. Members of the community can call SANC on 012 420 1000.
End
Issued by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)
For more information, contact:
Modise Letsatsi, DENOSA 1st Deputy President
Mobile: 071 610 4576
Or
Sibongiseni Delihlazo, DENOSA Communications Manager
Mobile: 079 875 2663
Tel: 012 343 2315
Email: sibongisenid@denosa.org.za
Website: www.denosa.org.za
Facebook: DENOSA National Page
Twitter: @DENOSAORG
