Millions Invested Into Funding Nursing Courses

In 2022, nursing was added to the critical skills list in South Africa and studies suggest that the main reason for the drastic decrease in the number of student nurses currently being trained in South Africa is the lack of finances.

Responding to a recent parliamentary Q&A, regarding scholarships for students wanting to pursue nursing qualifications, the Department of Higher Education noted that there are various funding opportunities are available for nursing students.

The department reported that the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) continues to invest in various health-related professions, including nursing.

As a way to promote nursing as a profession the HWSETA offers funding to students wishing to pursue qualifications and training in programmes such as a Diploma in Nursing, a Degree in Nursing, a Bachelor in Nursing and Midwifery and the new Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing. 

The HWSETA has invested the following into nursing over the past five years:

a) R425 Nursing Diploma

b) R174 B Nursing & midwifery

c) R425 Nursing Degree

d) New Post Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Mental Health)

Given that the Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing is a recently launched programme and that only few students have applied for this qualification, no funding has yet been set up for it.

Furthermore, to avoid a global shortfall of nurses, the World Health Organisation has encouraged every country to train more nurses than they do each year.

According to the South African Nursing Council, the nurse-to-patient ratio in stands at one nurse for every 218 patients. 

This is why the continuous investments and funding opportunities being made available within the field of Nursing is welcomed, as it allows for more qualified nurses to enter the field.