Nigeria’s nursing education landscape has witnessed a significant transformation following the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s decision to scrap its controversial “three strikes and you’re out” policy for students failing professional examinations.
The sweeping reform, detailed in a the September 1, 2025 circular signed by Ndagi Alhassan, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) marks a departure from decades of rigid academic gatekeeping towards what the council describes as a more compassionate, student-focused approach.
Under the previous system, aspiring nurses and midwives faced permanent expulsion from their programmes after failing the council’s professional examinations three times – a policy that often ended promising careers before they could begin. The new framework eliminates this academic death sentence entirely.
In the circular, titled “Nursing education reform: Elimination of students after three professional examination attempts,” the council outlined its rationale for embracing what it calls “global best practice” in professional education.
“This policy of eliminating a candidate from training after three unsuccessful attempts at the Council’s professional examinations is hereby abolished effective from September 2025,” the document states unequivocally.
The reformed system introduces a more nuanced approach to academic assessment. Students who stumble at specific sections of examinations will now have unlimited opportunities to retake only those components where they fell short, rather than facing wholesale dismissal. However, this academic lifeline comes with strings attached – candidates must demonstrate serious commitment by maintaining a minimum 80 per cent attendance rate across both theoretical lectures and practical clinical placements.
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The NMCN’s shift in philosophy reflects growing recognition that academic struggle doesn’t necessarily indicate professional incompetence. The council acknowledged that its core mission to “promote and maintain excellence in nursing and midwifery education and practice” required embracing reforms that prioritise student achievement over punitive measures.
“The existing policy on eliminating candidates from training after three failed attempts at the Council’s professional examinations has become a concern,” the circular explains. “It is imperative to move from a policy of mere elimination to a more student-centred approach that promotes student achievement and success while controlling quackery.”
The policy change places additional responsibility on educational institutions, with the council implementing an accountability mechanism whereby each failed re-sit attempt will count against the hosting institution’s record. This system encourages schools to invest more heavily in student support systems rather than simply washing their hands of struggling candidates.
The circular, distributed to a broad network of stakeholders including health commissioners, university administrators, hospital directors, and training institution leaders, represents more than just procedural change – it signals a fundamental reimagining of how Nigeria approaches professional healthcare education.
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By embracing what the NMCN characterises as a commitment to “lifelong learning” and “academic excellence,” the reform acknowledges that different students require different timeframes to master complex medical competencies, without compromising the rigorous standards expected in healthcare professions.
The council has called upon institutional leaders to develop comprehensive support strategies for students requiring additional time and guidance, transforming the educational environment from one of elimination to one of cultivation.
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