THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The health department has said that the members of the Kerala Nursing Council need not go for a direct inspection on the complaint that even the reservation for general nursing admissions in private nursing schools is being sabotaged and seats are being sold.

The health department's directive comes at a time when a 10-member committee, including members and teachers, has decided to conduct an inspection. However, the council members said that they will not back down. The order for inspection has to be given by the council. There is a council meeting tomorrow. The members will collectively ask for an order to be issued. The members point out that the registrar cannot back away from issuing the order.

However, the government is of the view that direct inspection of members in nursing schools is illegal. The members are empowered to call the documents from the colleges and verify them if complaints are received. As this is the case, there is no need to go to schools for inspection, government sources said. However, there have been allegations that there are other motives behind the government's insistence that members should not go to nursing schools, following the ban on members from going for inspections in BSc nursing colleges this year. Tomorrow's meeting will be crucial because of this.

Rush for entry

With the demand for nursing studies increasing in view of the possibility of foreign employment, there is a rush for admissions, including in private colleges. Some managements are asking for money realizing this. So far this year, 1,272 nurses have gone abroad through government agencies such as NORKA and Odepc alone. More than twice as many nurses go abroad through private agencies.

Classes start in government schools

Classes in government schools began on the 18th amid the tussle over admissions to private nursing schools. Usually, classes start in the government and private sectors together. The delay in starting classes in private nursing schools may severely affect exams.