The Ghana Nurse and Midwife Trainees Association is protesting hikes in school fees by the Ministry of Health for the next academic year. The group says the over 100 percent increment in fees is “tantamount to an abrogation of their students’ right to education since most of them cannot pay the extortive amount”. A statement issued by the Association says student nurses and midwives in institutions across the country are paying between Gh₵800 and Gh₵1,100 per semester for their certificate and diploma programmes. National President of the Association, Ernest Sarpong, told Luv News the trainees are not at peace with the percentage increase in fees, especially with what he termed “repetitive levying”, where students are continually charged for services rendered for only a semester. These include computer fees and fees for educational trips. The statement noted that feeding fees had been increased from Gh₵250 to Gh₵400. “The Association is saying that, at the old charge of Gh₵250, the quality of food in the various schools did not merit the amount students paid. Students are therefore of the opinion that the current increment will not result in any further improvement in the food served”, it stated. The students also say an increase in library user fee from Gh₵15 to Gh₵30 is unjustified because library facilities in the various training institutions are yet to be stocked with “relevant modern books”. The Association states that “this increment will lead to some students withdrawing from school because they simply can’t afford these huge sums”. “The students, coupled with the parents and all other guardians are very much distressed by this. Most of us get into the training institutions because we cannot pay the fees of the universities, so it is very distressing when you get to the training institution and you realize you’re even paying more than sometimes somebody that is doing a fee-paying course”, Ernest wailed. The Association also wants the Health Ministry to nullify a directive to terminate allowances of trainees when they complete their six semester course. Ernest says the student nurses have been directed not to pay the fee until the Ministry reconsiders a reduction. The Association has issued an ultimatum of Tuesday August 7, 2012 for the Ministry to call a stakeholder meeting to discuss the students’ concerns. Over 30 thousand student nurses and midwives, including interns fall under the Association.