Risks in lowering entry requirements

Nurumal, Mohd. Said (2025) Risks in lowering entry requirements. The Star. p. 16.

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Abstract

THE recent decision by the Health Ministry to reduce the minimum Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) credit requirement for nursing diploma programmes from five to three is a matter of concern. While the aim is to address the ongoing nursing shortage, this approach will do little to uphold the dignity and professionalism of nursing. Nursing is not just a job, it is a skilled profession requiring critical thinking, clinical expertise, and ethical responsibility. Lowering entry requirements risks compromising the quality of our future nursing workforce and, ultimately, patient care. Although this policy is intended to last for two years (2025 and 2026), the consequences will linger far beyond that, affecting both the profession’s standards and its public perception. This is not the first time Malaysia has attempted to expand the nursing workforce by easing academic entry criteria. Historically, when the bar was set too low, many students struggled to pass their licensing examinations, leading to high failure rates.

Item Type:	Article (Newspaper)
Subjects:	R Medicine > RT Nursing
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Nursing
Depositing User:	Prof. Dr. Mohd. said Nurumal
Date Deposited:	27 Feb 2025 16:36
Last Modified:	27 Feb 2025 16:36
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/119908

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