CHED to offer postgraduate scholarships to increase nursing instructors

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Thursday said it will be offering scholarship grants to nurses enrolling in the short-term masters program to address the lack of instructors in the country.

A master's degree is a requirement for a nursing instructor to teach in institutions.

“Gagawa tayo ng hybrid masters program that recognizes prior work and learning experiences para mapabilis yung pagkuha ng master nung mga magtuturo sa nursing schools. Para mas marami ang magtuturo at mas pwedeng palakihin 'yung enrollment ng nursing schools,” said CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III at the PTV public briefing. 

(We will create a hybrid master's program that recognizes prior work and learning experiences to speed up the acquisition of a master's degree by those who want to teach in nursing schools. So more people will teach, and enrollment in nursing schools will also increase.)

“Halimbawa, isa kang nurse na anim na taon nang nagtatrabaho sa ospital at gusto mong magturo, hahanapan natin ng credit yung prior experience mo para mabawasan yung mga units na kukunin mo sa masters,” he explained.

(For example, if you are a nurse working in a hospital for six years and want to teach, we will find credit for your prior experience to reduce the units you will take in the master's.)

De Vera added that CHED will offer the scholarships to nurses pursuing the short-term master's program at qualified nursing schools.

“’Pag ni-launch namin ito, may kaakibat na scholarship mula sa CHED. Handa na tayo magbigay ng scholarship doon sa mga faculty,” he said.

(When we launch it, there will be an affiliated scholarship from CHED. We are willing to offer scholarships to faculties.)

“Handa na ‘yan, kung mapapaaga yung pag-rollout at may mga pamantasan na gusto i-adopt itong master program we can offer scholarships this coming school year. May pondo na tayo diyan,” de Vera assured.

(That is ready if the rollout can be done early, and if the universities want to adopt the master's program, we can offer scholarships this coming school year. We already have funds for that.)

De Vera said this is just among the reforms that the CHED discussed with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to address the nursing shortage in the country.

He noted that for a long time, there has been a nursing shortage in the country and abroad, including in top countries like Canada and Germany.

Moreover, the nursing crisis became more evident when the pandemic hit and caused a major shortage of health personnel.

He said the national government is pressured to see many Filipino nursing professionals with master's degrees being recruited abroad.

The CHED has presented several reforms to the administration, including short-term, long-term, and medium-term plans as well as immediate actions in order to augment the nursing shortage. — BM, GMA Integrated News