Students walk out in exam protest

STUDENTS at the Nicosia Nursing School yesterday walked out of class indefinitely after their demand for abolishing state exams was rejected.
Spokesman for the students Renos Nearchou said students felt the exams – without which students cannot obtain their diploma – were unnecessary and insulting, as similar ones were taken during the course of their studies.
He added that those failing the final exam do not qualify for the Nursing Register, while foreigners and university graduates were not made to sit the specific examination.

“We are examined on every subject separately during our studies, both in the clinical area and in theory. If we do not succeed in any subject, we cannot move ahead,” Nearchou said.

“Despite this, we are called to take the same exams at the end of our studies. And these exams are just for us to receive our diploma. To become employed in the public sector, we have to take public exams, and to become permanent, more exams,” he went on.

“We set the matter of abolishing these exams to the academic authority and the matter was taken on by the Health Minister,” said Nearchou, adding that the decision was made to postpone the state exams scheduled for February, until March 30.
“And the minister promised us that all discussions would be complete by then.
However, the weekend went by, and on Monday we were told that the minister had sent the matter back to the academic authority and there it was decided that the state exams would go ahead.

“So, while we were prepared to talk, we believe that what has happened is humiliating for the students and for this reasons we have taken these measures.”
Health Minister Charis Charalambous called on the students to return to the school, adding that common meetings had taken place with the students, in his presence, where the necessity of the exams was explained to them.
The ministry will not make any compromise on the issue, he stated, explaining that whether the exams were annulled or not, no common ground would be found for the students’ demands.

“The ministry, if the students wish, is willing to re-explain the reasons for which the exams are necessary,” said Charalambous.

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