SANGAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SCIENCES
School of Nursing

2007 - The Third Year of Sangam School of Nursing

Sangam School of Nursing in Labasa is in its third year and TISI Sangam is very pleased with the School. Sangam is able to provide much needed upper level of education in the Nursing Field to many students who are not able to get a place in the Fiji School of Nursing due to many reasons. The total number of students as at the beginning of Semester One of 2007 is 180; comprising of final year students, second year and the first year students. The final year (3rd year) students will graduate after the second semester sometimes in early 2008. This batch will be the pioneer graduates of Sangam School of Nursing.

As at now we are still conducting our courses from the FSC Labasa rented premises. Our ambitious project of building our own Nursing School Complex in Labasa has been sidelined for the time being as the Donor Agency which promised substantial amount for the construction of building is not able to fund it yet due to the current situation of our country. We do hope to have the required donation in early future hoping that the country will get normalised soon. We have already purchased a block of land very near to the Labasa Hospital and this will eventually house the School. However in the meantime the Directors of Sangam has shown interest to buy another property in Labasa Town and convert to school. This property is ideally located and is suitable and after tailor made renovations will be our Nursing School; but if all goes on well.

In the meantime our fingers are crossed for donations from the Agency and any one else who take pride and want to see the children of Fiji achieve their required goals in the field of Nursing..

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Namaskaram! This is the first time ever that you would have read news from the Department of Health Sciences or the School of Nursing for that matter. Well, we have come a long way. The latest development of our organization is the inclusion of a Nurse Training Centre to the long list of other primary, secondary and tertiary institutions around the country. Our nursing school is a TISI National Executive initiative who has successfully liaised with the Ministry of Health for the franchise of the FSN curriculum. We thank the Government of the day and the cabinet for giving their approval for us to set up the Nursing School with their assistance of using Labasa Hospital and Fiji School of Nursing curriculum. We would like to see this tertiary institution function autonomously under the SIT Board and an advisory / academic committee. The Nursing School training Centre is located at Labasa, currently housed at the FSC Club House and the adjacent training Centre. The building is divided into rooms, one lecture hall, two laboratories, two tutorial rooms, a library, and offices for the staff. There are four teaching and four support staff who are currently being employed at the school. The team is headed by Mr. Kavekini Neidiri. The team is a dynamic team who pledges (together with other stakeholders) to produce the best quality nurses that any nursing school could graduate. School HOD Mr. Kavekini Neidiri with the Prime Minister Hon. Laisenia Qarase and other members touring the School. The curriculum that is to be taught at the school is the same as the one that is being taught at the Fiji School of Nursing in Suva. This is an adult-learning model that emphasizes on students playing an active role in their education. The Sangam Nurse Training Centre also boasts the availability of the latest teaching and learning materials and equipment that would greatly assist students in their 3 years of studies. Graduates of the school will also be awarded the Diploma in Nursing. As a regulatory body, the Fiji Nurses, Midwives and Nurse Practitioners Board, will arrange and regulate the programme that is being offered at the school. The same board will prepare and administer the final assessment or qualifying examination before it registers, and awards the license in order to practice nursing. Currently the school is based in a leased property from FSC called FSC Club House in labasa. Within two years SIT will have its own nursing campus in Labasa. Preparatory works on this home already begun.

The TISI President Mr. D S Naidu & The Prime Minister of Fiji Is Hon. Laisenia Qarase touring the Campus. The School of Nursing was officially opened by the Prime Minister of Fiji Hon Laisenia Qarase on 6^th April, 2005. TISI National President Mr D S Naidu, Chief Guest Hon Laisenia Qarase Prime Minister of Fiji & Labasa Mayor Cr Charan Jeet Singh at the Opening Cermony. We appeal to all well wishes and members of Sangam to bless the new project and we generously appeal to you for your contributions towards the new Nursing Training Complex.  We are in great need of fully equipping our Library and the Science Lab. This would cost us approximately $50,000. Any contributions towards this appeal should be directed to the Executive Officer at TISI Head Quarters, Mr Shyam Reddy. The Prime Minister with Nursing School Staff viewing the modern training equipments in the premises.

Address:
Sangam Institute of Technology- School of Nursing, P. O. Box 2047, Labasa, Fiji.

Phone: (679) 8818691, 8818692 Fax : (679) 8818693