Updated: PL calls for more admissions to nursing course

(Adds Education Ministry's reaction)

The Labour Party has urged the government and the university to consider the applications made by 214 people who applied to join the nursing course under 'mature students' rules. They include 84 nursing aides.

Health spokesman Michael Farrugia and education spokesman Evarist Bartolo in a joint statement said that after the government had plucked up some courage and accepted all applications from eligible candidates under the normal admission regulations, it should also favourably consider the applications under the mature student clauses, in view of the acute shortage of nurses.

In a reply, the Education Ministry said that that interviews with matrue students who applied to join the nursing profession would be carried out fairly and would be based on the candidates' qualifications and competences. It was a shame that the PL's spokesmen were trying to cast doubts on the process, the ministry said.