Nursing students require English skills

Dubai: Nursing students in the country must have English language skills as a qualification before they can join the three nursing schools under the Health Ministry.

Dr Ali Bin Shakar, undersecretary at the ministry, told Gulf News the applicants have to pass a proficiency test in English language, rejecting the suggestion that the language requirement would worsen the nursing shortage.

"[Proficiency] in English language is a must and we cannot solve the problem of [shortage in nursing staff] just by pushing aside the requirement," he said.

"More than 700 people have applied to enter the schools and we are only accepting 400. I don't think there will be enough [with the language skills]."

International exams

Bin Shakar said for the time being, the ministry would not require applicants to satisfy international English-language proficiency tests, such as Test of English as a Foreign Language (Toefl).

Instead, they have to pass written and oral exams set by Health Ministry officials, who double as English teachers.

English language is the usual medium of instruction at medical conferences and continuous medical education lectures, mandatory for all health professionals working in the UAE.

Bin Shakar said in a press statement other new conditions set for enrolment include determining the applicant's time management abilities, decisiveness and IT proficiency.

There are three nursing institutes in the UAE - in Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, accepting both nationals and non-nationals. The ministry needs more than 1,000 nurses for their health centres and hospitals.