The Punjab government has ended free nursing education in government colleges.
According to details surfaced on Saturday, the Punjab Health Department has issued a new policy on nursing education. Under the policy, nursing students will pay fees amounting to thousands of rupees to continue their studies. The monthly stipend has been withdrawn, and students will also pay charges for government hostels.
Only candidates with at least 50 per cent marks at intermediate level will qualify for admission to nursing programmes. A Punjab domicile has been made mandatory for admission to nursing colleges.
At the Nursing College of Shahdara Teaching Hospital, admissions will be restricted to male students only. Across Punjab, 3,100 seats have been allocated for the morning shift in government nursing colleges, with 3,000 seats reserved for the evening shift.
In nursing colleges attached to teaching hospitals, 100 seats each have been allocated for morning and evening shifts. In nursing colleges attached to district hospitals, 50 seats have been allocated for each shift.
