November 09, Colombo (LNW): Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has directed officials to fast-track the recruitment of nursing lecturers in response to a serious staffing gap across nursing colleges nationwide.
At present, only 220 lecturers are serving in nursing education institutions, although the approved cadre is 395 — leaving a shortfall of 175.
The shortage has reportedly placed mounting pressure on training programmes and affected the smooth functioning of several nursing schools.
The issue was taken up during a meeting held with the Nursing College Principals’ Association, where Minister Jayatissa stressed the urgent need to strengthen teaching capacity in the sector.
He noted that the deficit in qualified lecturers could have long-term implications for healthcare delivery, particularly at a time when the demand for trained nurses continues to rise.
Following the discussions, the Minister instructed ministry officials to resume stalled recruitment processes without further delay. He further ordered that pending examinations and selections for eligible candidates be completed within the next two months to ensure that new appointments can be made promptly.
