SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, on Friday, expressed serious concern over the plight of students enrolled in several nursing colleges across the region that lack affiliation with the Indian Nursing Council (INC).
In a statement, National Secretary of the Association, Malik Adnan, said that, “Many nursing colleges in J&K are operating without INC affiliation, which is a severe issue as these colleges are not listed in the INC’s annual approved colleges list. This lack of registration threatens the recognition of students’ qualifications, leaving their degrees potentially invalid and endangering their career prospects.”
He emphasized, “Students are being admitted to these colleges through the J&K BOPEE Common Entrance Test, based on merit. However, despite this regulated selection process, the standards of these colleges fall far below INC norms.”
Adnan further highlighted several critical shortcomings in these nursing colleges, such as the lack of qualified faculty and insufficient staff. “Many of these institutions are operating with unqualified or underqualified staff, with some even appointing non-nursing professionals to lead nursing activities. They fail to meet the INC requirement of having a principal, vice principal, and sufficient number of professors and tutors. Moreover, some colleges have not yet appointed a principal as per INC guidelines,” he noted.
The students also raised concerns over inadequate laboratory and classroom facilities, citing a lack of necessary equipment for proper training.
Adnan stressed that clinical training at these colleges is subpar due to the absence of a permanent parent hospital, a critical requirement by the INC. This deficiency denies students the opportunity to gain practical experience under professional supervision, which is essential for their training and future employment. Furthermore, the clinical postings in external hospitals do not meet the INC’s required hours for hands-on training, further undermining the students’ education.
“The students have repeatedly approached college authorities but have only received empty assurances, with no concrete measures taken to resolve the issues,” Adnan added.
The J&K Students Association has called for immediate action from the concerned authorities to address these serious violations and ensure that the nursing colleges comply with INC standards. They stressed the need for urgent measures to protect the future of the affected students and secure their professional credentials.
