Kumasi, Dec.22, GNA- The Ministry of Health (MOH) is working out a comprehensive incentive package and schemes to be instituted for tutors in the Nurses' Training Colleges (NTCs), effective next year. The move is part of measures to motivate the tutors to work harder to ensure academic excellence in the institutions.

It was also intended to attract the youth to take up teaching appointments in these colleges to make up for the ageing staff. Mr. James Antwi, Deputy Director in-charge of Human Resources at the MOH disclosed this at a Matriculation ceremony of the Kumasi Nurses' and Midwifery Training College in Kumasi on Saturday.

In all, a total of 420 freshmen were enrolled into the college to commence a three-year Diploma programme in Nursing and Midwifery. The Deputy Director said the institution of the incentive schemes was necessitated by persistent complaints from Principals of NTCs about the deteriorating tutor-student ratio in these colleges which was affecting academic work.

He said, within the last two years, tutor-student ratio in NTCs across the country had deteriorated from 1: 15 to 1:30 and that the MOH would do all that it could to improve the situation for excellent tuition and quality health care delivery. Mr. Antwi advised parents to desist from bribing Principals of NTCs to facilitate the admission of their wards into these institutions. He said bribery, in whatever form was against the laws of the country and that, the Ministry would not hesitate to call to order Principals who misconduct themselves in the admission processes. Mrs. Gladys Fabyan, Principal of the College, said in spite of the hazards associated with the profession, nurses and other health professionals should always be cheerful and calm in their work and appreciate the fact that, in so doing, they were indeed serving God. She charged the freshmen to be serious with their studies to ensure the successful completion of their education. 22 Dec. 07