Recruiting in China

MANILA -- China is interested in hiring around 500 Filipino nurses to teach there, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) said on Friday.

CHEd Chair Carlito Puno said that two big nursing schools in China have expressed interest in hiring Filipino nurses. “I can’t disclose yet the names of these schools pending the signing of an agreement between our government through CHEd and the China government through its education ministry,” Puno said.

He said that China has “high regard” for the country's nurses as compared with its own nurses. “China admitted that the quality of their nursing education is not good compared with those of other countries such as Philippines. China’s nursing graduates could barely pass the National Licensure Examination,” he said.

Puno announced the news as a result of his recent visit to China where he met with 41 education ministers from all over the world to discuss trends and improvements in cross-border education programs.

He also said the country will be sending to China next year the first batch of 1,000 nursing students who will share their knowledge with their counterparts on nursing care and hospital work.

“This (student exchange) is part of a cross-border education program between our country and the education ministry of the China government that would be formalized soon between the two governments,” Puno said.

Puno said that those who will be sent to China for a one-year tour-of-duty in the student exchange program are 4th year nursing students from two prestigious schools in the country.

“These nursing students will spend their last year of practicum in different hospitals in China. "That’s the initial agreement that has still to be signed by both governments. CHEd is already considering two top schools where the 4th year nursing students would be tapped to be sent to China ,” Puno explained.

Puno also expressed confidence that the nursing profession in the country will continue to produce more competent and qualified nurses in the future.

“Despite the leakage controversy wreaking havoc in our nursing profession, some countries are still interested to share and impart knowledge with us. This is a very positive development for our Filipino nurses who should also try to go to other countries other than the United States and Europe,” he said.

Puno believes that the controversy over the licensure exams leakage that hit the Philippine nursing education in 2006 will “die down naturally.” “I’m hoping the issue will be resolved soon and let our new nurses move on with their life and future,” he said.

On Friday, the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) started to administer the oath to those who passed the last nursing board exams last June.

Out of around 43,000 examinees, 41.24 percent or 17,323 passed.