The Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences in Jalingo has dismissed allegations that students were exploited, threatened, or intimidated, calling a recent media report misleading and unprofessional.
College officials said the claims ignored the institution’s standards and misrepresented the reasons behind students’ difficulties.
The management clarified that challenges faced by some students were linked to poor academic performance and disciplinary issues, including chronic absenteeism, lateness, and skipping lectures and clinical postings. Examination records were cited to show that performance levels, not administrative actions, determined outcomes.
For instance, in the September 2025 Midwifery Professional Qualifying Examinations, 58 of 141 students passed, while 40 of 67 Community Midwifery students succeeded. November 2025 Nursing Professional Qualifying Examinations saw only 111 of 277 Basic Nursing students and 27 of 135 Community Nursing students pass.
The college explained that final examinations are centrally set and marked by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, leaving management no influence over results. Following poor performance, the Academic Board required students repeating a semester to pay school fees and mandated at least 75 percent attendance in lectures and clinical postings before eligibility to retake final exams.
Management said some students reacted to these regulations with threats of protest, prompting the college to report the matter to the Ministries of Health and Tertiary Education with supporting documentation. Rules in the Student Handbook specify that absences beyond 28 days can lead to demotion.
Officials reiterated that all fees are statutory, transparent, and aligned with government policies and professional training standards. The college insisted no form of exploitation or intimidation occurred and that its actions aim to maintain academic and clinical standards while ensuring student preparedness.
