Nicosia, Cyprus. The Cyprus Union of Nursing Staff (Oyyk-Sek) welcomed Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides’ initiative and the cabinet’s approval of an additional grant scheme for nursing and midwifery students.
The union said it had advocated for the measure for the past two years as an incentive for young people to enter the professions and as support during practical training.
Grant amounts
The scheme will provide an annual grant to undergraduate nursing students, with payments increasing according to the year of study.
First-year students will receive €1,000 annually, second-year students €1,250, third-year students €1,500 and fourth-year students €2,000.
Eligibility and employment condition
The scheme will be available to permanent residents of the Republic of Cyprus enrolled in nursing or midwifery programmes and is scheduled to take effect in September.
It will cover new entrants as well as students already enrolled in their second, third and fourth years of nursing and midwifery studies.
Graduates will be required to commit to working for at least two years in state healthcare facilities after completing their studies.
Union position
Oyyk-Sek said the additional grant, alongside the existing student grant, had been among its longstanding proposals.
The union said measures to make better use of the domestic workforce and strengthen links between higher education and the labour market were an investment and the most meaningful response to labour market needs. It said it expects the scheme to encourage more secondary school graduates to study nursing and midwifery.