Church institute trains professional nurses

(July 22, 2010) A demand for female workers overseas has prompted a Church-run institute in Sri Lanka to offer women a course in nursing. St. Anthony’s Institute of Higher Studies in Chilaw diocese is offering a nursing assistant course, as well as the more traditional courses such as English, computing, counselling and Christian studies. “It is a one-year nursing-assistant program,” said Father Ivan Anthony, director of the institute. He said students, irrespective of their religion, who have passed their Ordinary Level exam, can sign up. The first class last year had 45 students and this year there are 30 including three nuns. Student pay 1,500 rupees (US$13) per month for classes held over weekends. Poorer students are offered concessionary rates. “Through this course, women can gain a much-needed skill so when they go abroad they can find good jobs,” said Father Anthony, Bishop Valence Mendis of Chilaw recently stressed the need for such courses, as more and more women in the coastal areas are going abroad for employment, especially in the Middle East Countries. Sri Lanka has 19 nursing schools all run by the government.