Students of Diploma Nursing and Midwifery plan to protest on the streets again after May 29 to press home several demands, including recognition of their diplomas as equivalent to bachelor's degrees.
Leaders of the Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery Degree Implementation Committee issued the warning at a press conference at the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh in Dhaka's Segunbagicha on Saturday.
They said that there will be an inter-ministerial meeting on May 29 to discuss the issue. "If a written notification in support of their demands is not received there, the students of Diploma Nursing and Midwifery will take to the streets after May 29 with a strict plan in a bid to intensify their protest."
"The existing post-HSC Diploma in Nursing Science and Midwifery and Diploma in Midwifery courses must be immediately recognised as equivalent to a bachelor's degree." they added.
About 20,000 students with HSC qualifications are admitted to the Diploma in Nursing Science and Midwifery course and 6,000 students are admitted to the Diploma in Midwifery course. As a result, a total of about 26,000 students participate in this three-year education course annually.
The three-year education programme is running under the supervision of the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (BNMC). It opens doors to various nursing roles in hospitals, clinics, community health settings and potentially international opportunities.
