Tuesday, September 9, 2025 - The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has abolished its policy of eliminating a candidate from training after three unsuccessful attempts at the council’s professional examinations.
The NMCN stated that the affected students will now be
allowed to retake the specific part they failed until they achieve a pass mark,
provided they maintain at least 80 percent attendance in lectures and clinical
postings.
This was contained in a circular signed by the
Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the council, Ndagi Alhassan, titled,
“Nursing education reform: Elimination of students after three professional
examination attempts.”
The circular, dated September 1, 2025, was addressed to the
Commissioners/Secretaries of Health Services, all Nigerian Universities
Offering Bachelor of Nursing Science degree programmes, Chief Medical
Directors/Medical Directors, and others.
The latest reform is driven by the council’s goal to create
a more student-centred, inclusive, and supportive learning environment.
The reform also reflects the council’s commitment to
regularly reviewing nursing and midwifery education and practice standards to
meet the evolving health care needs that align with global best practices.
The NMCN registrar noted that the council understands the
purpose of every regulation and policy that is implemented and reviews them as
the need arises to ensure they align with our commitment to academic excellence
and global best practice.
“Our mission to promote and maintain excellence in nursing
and midwifery education and practice calls for a more inclusive and supportive
academic environment that is student-centred, flexible, and devoted to building
resilience and interest in lifelong learning.
“The existing policy on eliminating candidates from training
after three failed attempts at the council’s professional examinations has
become a concern. It is imperative to move from a policy of mere elimination to
a more student-centred approach that promotes student achievement and success
while controlling quackery.
“Based on the foregoing, this policy of eliminating a
candidate from training after three unsuccessful attempts at the council’s
professional examinations is hereby abolished, effective from September 2025.
Candidates who do not pass a part of the professional examination will be
required to retake that specific part until a pass mark is achieved.”
In the notice to the proprietors and heads of Nursing
training institutions, the council stated: “The policy of eliminating
unsuccessful candidates from training after three attempts at the council’s
professional examination is now completely abolished.
“A candidate who is unsuccessful in any part of the
council’s professional examination shall be permitted to retake that specific
part until he/she is successful in all parts of the professional examination.”
The circular also stated that the candidate(s) concerned
must remain in school and maintain at least 80 per cent lecture and/or clinical
posting attendance to be eligible for the re-sit.
“Each unsuccessful attempt at the professional examination
resit will be counted against the institution.
“The council sincerely appeals to heads of institutions to
implement strategies that will help all students succeed, especially those who
may need more support and time to study and improve their knowledge,” it added.
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