The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria says it is accepting the Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination for admission into nursing programmes nationwide bacaus it is valid and approved by the federal government.
The council revealed this in a In a circular dated April 14, 2025, and addressed to stakeholders.
It says the council has reaffirmed that the SAISSCE is 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/secretaries of health services, all state ministries of health, vice chancellors, chief medical directors/medical directors of university teaching hospitals, specialist and medical centres, the 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 of the continued acceptance of the Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination for admission purposes.
“The Council reiterates that the 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.”
Responding to public criticism suggesting that the inclusion of religious-based certificates undermines the professionalism of nursing, Alhassan clarified that the SAISSCE also includes basic science subjects such as biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and others.
“The SAISSCE is an examination body approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria. They also offer basic science courses like biology, physics, chemistry, English, and mathematics, which are accepted by the council,” he told our correspondent over the phone.
Alhassan further emphasised that admission into nursing programmes was not based on Arabic or Islamic studies alone.
“We did not say we are accepting that result because of Islamic or Arabic studies. We accept candidates who sit for that examination and pass English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology; that is our requirement, just as it is with other examination bodies—nothing more,” he added.
The acting registrar also said the directive to accept the SAISSCE was not driven by the current shortage of nurses and midwives in the country.
