Uttarakhand to make a foreign language compulsory in nursing colleges

Students in government and private nursing colleges in Uttarakhand will now have to be taught a foreign language. The government is set to issue an order for this soon.

The decision has been taken because nurses are in high demand abroad. Indian nurses are needed in large numbers in countries in Europe and the Middle East, but not knowing a foreign language is creating difficulties for them. In view of this, the government is making one foreign language compulsory in nursing colleges.

Medical Education Minister Subodh Uniyal said an in-principle agreement has been reached on the matter. The proposal will be implemented once the Cabinet approves it.

Meanwhile, questions are being raised over admissions at Kumaun University. The university has begun the admission process for UG and PG courses just a few weeks before the semester examinations, which has put the entire academic arrangement under question.

The university reopened its portal in the last week of October. It is meant for students who could not take admission within the stipulated time for some reason, and they are being given one more chance. The semester examinations are proposed from November 21.

The newly admitted students face several challenges. On one hand, they must attend classes daily to meet the mandatory 75 per cent attendance. On the other, they have to complete the course in a short time and also prepare for the examinations. With very little gap between admission and examinations, students are confused. The question being raised is how 75 per cent attendance can be completed in so little time.

Kumaun University Registrar Prof Ritesh Shah said the portal was reopened to give a chance to students who had missed admission. He said extra classes will be held for such students so that they can complete the course and prepare for the semester examinations.