Carisa Lee
COSTAATT President Dr Keith Nurse says the college remains committed to close engagement with nursing students and stakeholders following complaints about the reintroduction of in-person lab sessions and clinicals.
In a letter to Nurse, students from the School of Nursing said the change from online to face-to-face classes would disadvantage full-time workers and those with long commutes, and pointed to delayed clinical placements in Tobago.
COSTAATT confirmed it had received the letter and held meetings with students, but said in-person participation was essential to meet professional and international standards in healthcare.
Nursing Council president Corey George called the concerns troubling and said COSTAATT had previously fallen short in maintaining academic and clinical standards. The college said it would continue engaging all stakeholders to address concerns and improve the learning environment.
COSTAATT confirmed receipt of the letter and said several meetings were held with nursing students to fully address their concerns and explain the programme’s academic and professional requirements. However, the college defended the move back to face-to-face instruction, describing it as both a policy position and a pedagogical necessity.
“This comprehensive approach is essential for equipping our students with the hands-on experience, critical thinking, and professional competencies required to excel in diverse healthcare settings and to meet international professional standards,” the college said in a statement. “The nursing programme is indispensable to the nation’s healthcare sector, consistently producing competent and compassionate professionals.”
Contacted for comment, president of the Nursing Council of Trinidad and Tobago Corey George described the issues raised by students as “deeply troubling” and said they were not unfamiliar to the council. He added that COSTAATT, in its current form, had fallen short of maintaining critical academic and clinical standards, and that this shortfall affected not only the student experience but also the broader healthcare system that relies on well-prepared graduates.