BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Midwives are now earning more than nurses, a top university official revealed on Friday.

Dr. Ruby B. Santos-Matibag, president of the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU), shared that since the Midwifery course has been upgraded to a four-year Bachelor of Science degree, midwives now command higher salaries than nurses.

“The public is still unaware of this positive shift for midwives,” Dr. Matibag pointed out, noting the lack of promotional efforts to highlight midwives’ increasing demand and better compensation.

Previously a two-year course, Midwifery is now a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery (BSM), a four-year ladderized program that equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge to assist women through childbirth. The transition to a four-year degree has raised the competencies of midwives, giving them the potential for higher-level careers and better salaries.

Dr. Matibag proudly mentioned, “BPSU has consistently topped the Midwifery Board Exam for the last three years.”

In other news, BPSU is facing challenges in meeting the demand for nursing students. Dr. Matibag revealed that nearly 5,000 students aspiring to pursue nursing this semester were unable to enroll due to a severe shortage of nursing professors and inadequate classroom facilities.

With the university’s nursing quota for the year capped at only 160, Dr. Matibag emphasized the urgency of expanding facilities and hiring more faculty to accommodate the growing number of nursing aspirants. Nearly 1,000 students have already passed the nursing entrance exams but were left without a spot in the program.

“We will request additional building facilities and more nursing professors to ensure that more students can pursue the course,” Dr. Matibag concluded.