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The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has explained its decision to continue accepting Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination for admission into nursing programmes across the country.
In a circular dated April 14, 2025, and addressed to stakeholders, the council reaffirmed that SAISSCE was a valid and nationally approved qualification recognised by the Federal Government.
The circular titled, ‘Acceptance of Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination for Admission into Nursing Programmes’ was directed to commissioners/secretary of health services, all states ministry of health, vice chancellors, chief medical directors/medical directors, university teaching hospitals/specialist & medical centre, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and directors of nursing services, among others.
Signed by the Acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the NMCN, Ngadi Alhassan, the circular read, “The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria wishes to inform you all on the continued acceptance of the Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination for admission purposes.
“The Council reiterates that SAISSCE is a recognised and acceptable qualification for admission into nursing programmes, alongside other recognised secondary school certificates such as the Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by WAEC and NECO.”
In response to public criticism suggesting that the inclusion of religious-based certificates undermines the professionalism of nursing, Alhassan clarified that the SAISSCE also run other basic science subjects such as biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and others.
“The SSSCIA is an examination body approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria. They also run basic science courses like biology, physics, chemistry, English, mathematics that is accepted by the council,” he told our correspondent on the phone.
He further emphasised that admission into nursing programmes was not based on Arabic or Islamic studies alone.
“We did not say we are taking that result because of Islamic or Arabic studies. We are taking anybody that sits for that examination and they have to pass English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology; that is our consideration, just like we consider for other examination bodies, nothing more,” he added.
He also said the directive to accept the SAISSCE was not driven by the current shortage of nurses and midwives in the country.
