Düsseldorf - 300 places are to be set up annually for midwifery training at universities in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The state government decided that, as it announced yesterday.
The training capacities would be gradually shifted from midwifery schools to universities. The university selection will take place in autumn. The start of the dual study is planned mainly for the winter semester 2021/2022.
“We are striving for smooth transition from the previous classic midwifery training to the future fully academic training ”, explained Minister of Science Isabel Pfeiffer-Poensgen (independent).
Half year ago, the North Rhine-Westphalia State Association of Midwives set up study opportunities for prospective midwives in the most populous State criticized as being too slow.
He spoke of supply shortage in obstetrics. In autumn 2019, nationwide reform of training was decided.
At the beginning of the year in North Rhine-Westphalia only at the University of Health in Bochum the opportunity to acquire bachelor's degree in midwifery.
According to the ministry In February the universities in Aachen, Krefeld, Bonn, Cologne and Bielefeld have expressed their interest. In Düsseldorf, course of study was in the starting blocks, it was said at the time.
The Greens criticized the latest decision. Bachelor courses alone are not enough to counteract the shortage of midwives.
Experts had already clearly demanded in advance that “Master’s courses and doctorate opportunities are needed in North Rhine-Westphalia in order to get enough teachers for midwifery studies.”