General Nursing Program to Begin for Class 12 Graduates in Nepal
The Government of Nepal has announced plans to introduce a two-year General Nursing Program for students who have completed secondary education.
Policy Announcement by the President
President Ram Chandra Paudel, in the national policy and program presented to the Federal Parliament, stated that the new nursing program will address the shortage of human resources in the healthcare sector.
Background and Policy Foundation
According to the Medical Education Commission, the decision to launch the program is based on the recommendations made by a task force led by Prof. Dr. Kuntadevi Pun. However, the official launch date has not been finalized.
On Chaitra 9, 2080, during its 13th meeting, the Commission resolved to implement the task force's report.
Preparation Underway
"The Commission has already decided to implement the General Nursing Program. The curriculum is being developed," said Dr. Anjanikumar Jha, Vice Chairperson of the Commission. He added that the Ministry of Education is working on additional procedures.
Current Pathways and Existing Programs
At present, only SEE graduates can pursue the three-year PCL Nursing program. After completing PCL, students may progress to a three-year Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNS) program.
Likewise, students who complete Class 12 in the Science stream are eligible for the four-year BSc Nursing program.
Educational Reform and International Standards
Sarala KC, Chairperson of the Nepal Nursing Council and a task force member, stated that starting nursing education after secondary school helps students develop logical reasoning and evidence-based decision-making skills.
Dr. Jha explained that aligning nursing education with international standards requires students to begin nursing studies only after completing Class 12. Based on task force recommendations, only educational institutions that own a hospital with at least 100 beds will be allowed to run the two-year General Nursing Program.
The government plans to gradually phase out the existing PCL Nursing Program within five years of the full implementation of the new program.
Legal and Structural Basis
This decision is grounded in Nepal's Constitution of 2072 and the Compulsory and Free Education Act of 2075, which defines Classes 9 to 12 as secondary education.
Employment Challenges for Nursing Graduates
Despite spending large amounts of money on nursing education, many graduates remain unemployed. Those employed in private hospitals often earn only NPR 8,000 to 10,000 per month and face significant exploitation.
With the introduction of the two-year program for Class 12 graduates, the government aims to phase out the PCL Nursing model gradually.
Current Implementation Under CTEVT
The Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) currently runs the PCL Nursing program at 52 educational institutions, serving over 2,000 students annually.
According to Dr. Jha, the responsibility for launching the General Nursing Program and phasing out the PCL model lies with CTEVT.
Challenges in Student Enrollment
Attracting students to the new program poses several challenges. Experts highlight three main reasons why it will be difficult to draw students away from the existing PCL program:
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Students must study two more years (up to Class 12) before qualifying
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The number of students completing Class 12 is much lower than those passing SEE
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An increasing number of Class 12 graduates seek opportunities abroad
History of Nursing Education in Nepal
To meet the demand for trained nurses, the first nursing school was established in 2013 BS under the Ministry of Health and Population.
The government plans to reform the Health Insurance Board and revise benefit packages to include treatment for serious illnesses within an integrated health insurance system.
After the National Education Plan 2028 was introduced, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) under Tribhuvan University was tasked with producing middle- and lower-level healthcare workers.
This shift granted nursing education official recognition as a technical program, requiring SLC graduation for enrollment. IOM introduced the bachelor's level in 2034 BS and the master’s level in nursing education in 2045 BS.
In the same year, CTEVT was established to produce technical human resources. Eleven years later, in 2056 BS, CTEVT launched the PCL Nursing program at Tansen Nursing School. In 2057 BS, private colleges began receiving affiliation.
Current Status of Programs and Institutions
Today, CTEVT has affiliated:
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52 colleges for the PCL Nursing program
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2 colleges for the PCL Midwifery program
Universities and medical institutions have affiliated:
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53 colleges for the four-year BSc Nursing program
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39 colleges for BNS
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1 college for the BSc Midwifery program
Supply of Registered Nurses
According to the Nepal Nursing Council, over 116,000 nurses (including ANMs) are registered. Around 5,000 nursing and midwifery professionals are added each year.
Still, many nursing graduates remain unemployed or underpaid, especially in private hospitals.
Projected Oversupply of Nursing Professionals
If implemented, the General Nursing Program will increase the number of qualified nursing professionals. However, managing this workforce will be a major challenge.
The Medical Education Commission’s "Health Workforce Projection in Nepal (2079–2087)" report shows that as of FY 2077/78, 72,550 staff nurses had been produced.
After accounting for retirees and those who have gone abroad, over 50,000 nurses remain in the domestic labor market, while the estimated demand was only 39,249.
By 2087/88, the projected demand for staff nurses is 43,056, suggesting an oversupply in the nursing workforce.
