Q UALITY A SSURANCE IN T RAINING S CHOOLS F OR H EALTH P ERSONNEL Presented by: Mme KECHIA Assumpta Basic Training Service

I NTRODUCTION The Ministry of Public Health has close to 81 schools under its supervision There has been a great influx of students recently in the training schools This influx has not been backed by a corresponding increase in clinical practise sites nor in infrastructure nor human resources There is a paucity of information concerning the norms or standards of training in Cameroon

I NTRODUCTION CONT ’ D The Ministry has been using a checklist for the creation of new schools Today there is much talk about standards and norms or quality assurance in the training of health personnel Quality education has become absolutely crucial in the training of health personnel

I NTRODUCTION C ONT ’ D For the past two years the Ministry of Public Health has been leaving no stone unturned to put in place colleges of Nursing/Midwives and other paramedics These colleges will train at the BMD level This entails having qualified human resources, infrastructure, clinical sites, curriculum and the students

I NFRASTRUCTURE To open a school that trains 50 students the school should be constructed on a surface area of about 2284 square metres – square metres, with enough space for expansion The teaching block should consist of: - A lecture hall - Skills laboratory with compartments for obst/gyn, pediatrics and laboratory

I NFRASTRUCTURE CONT ’ D - Computer lab - Multipurpose hall - Staff room - Director’s office - Deputy/Assistant Director’s office - Library - An office for each head of department

I NFRASTRUCTURE CONT ’ D - Toilets for staff and students - Records room - Audio visual room NB: Transforming our present schools into complexes would be of great advantage as the institutions would be able to share equipment and other facilities

I NFRASTRUCTURE CONT ’ D The training institution should be affiliated to a hospital with a bed capacity of 50 – 240 at least Student patient ratio should be 1:3

R ESOURCES /T EACHING S TAFF For the post of Principal, the occupant should have; - At least a Masters degree - A working experience of at least 5 years For the post of Deputy/Assistant - Masters degree - Working experience of at least 5years

H UMAN R ESOURCES CONT ’ D Lecturers should have - A masters degree with a minimum of 2 years working experience - The teacher student ratio should be 1:15 Clinical instructors should have a minimum working experience of 1 year with a qualification of Masters, B. Sc. or the necessary clinical specialty The mentor student ratio should be 1:5

S TUDENTS The recruitment of students should be based strictly on entry requirements Students should be provided with clearly written regulations binding their training The assessment of students should be done using reliable evaluation methodologies, for example performance based evaluation

T HE C URRICULUM National and international education criteria should be taken into consideration when drawing up the curriculum Classroom and clinical learning should deliver the knowledge, skills and attitude required to meet the needs of the population The curriculum should demonstrate and establish a balance between theory/practice (minimum should be 40% theory and 50% practice

C URRICULUM CONT ’ D The curriculum should make use of recognized approaches to teaching and learning Classroom and clinical learning should be based on established competencies There should be regular evaluation of the curriculum taking into account feedback that is made from the students, the public, stakeholders and users of these services.

C LINICAL SITES Schools should have access to and clinical sites for programme delivery Clinical instructors should have university degrees and educational expertise in their specialty Teachers with clinical expertise in a particular specialty should be designated to supervise that area A variety of qualified people should be enlisted as clinical supervisors

T HE WAY FORWARD The Ministry is going to create a committee for the validation of credentials of all teachers as from next academic year (2013/2014). All Directors of Schools for Health Professionals are expected to forward the credentials of all prospective teachers/faculty to the Ministry for accreditation. A committee for the accreditation of schools and clinical areas is also going to be put in place.

REFERENCES Clinical Training Framework For Nursing Education In Mauritius; Indian Nursing Council: Regulation/Norms of B.Sc Nursing Physical Features; Nursing and Midwifery Human Resources for Health: Global standards for the initial education of professional nurses and midwives, Geneva 2009.

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION