A new intake policy for the Fiji School of Nursing comes into effect from next year.

Cabinet has today approved that the new FSN policy will be based on geographical and disadvantaged factors and will replace the current ethnic based classification.

The decision was based on a submission by the Health Minister, Doctor Neil Sharma.

Doctor Sharma said the new policy will facilitate and promote fairness and equality in the enrolment to the Fiji School of Nursing, thus eliminating the ethnic-oriented system.

He said under the new policy, schools will be classified under four major categories, and the allocation for enrolment would be based on the classification.

Urban schools located within the city, town or township will be allocated 65 percent of the intake. Semi-urban schools located within 5 kilometres from the metropolitan area will be allocated 15 percent of the intake, rural schools will be allocated 15 percent and remote schools in the interior of the mainland including the maritime area will be allocated 5 percent of the intake.

The other criteria includes a pass in the Fiji School Leaving Certificate Examination with a total of 250 plus, in four subjects, with at least 50 percent in English, Biology and one other science subject excluding Agricultural Science.