Shock of English mass failure for nurses heading to Britain

Only 10 out of 300 health professionals who undertook the mandatory English language test required to work in the UK passed, it has emerged.

The other 290 health professionals who were set to travel to the United Kingdom to take up well-paying jobs in the health sector failed, jeopardising their chances of securing the once in a lifetime opportunities.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe made the damning revelations yesterday when he addressed the Kenya Clinical Officers conference in Mombasa.

“We sent 300 people to do the English exams but only 10 passed the test, it is very regrettable. So I am challenging you that we are going to negotiate, yes, but you are going to have to pass the exams.

So let us prepare ourselves. Let us set the standards so that they are sure there is no exam anywhere on earth, that a clinical officer in Kenya can fail,” Kagwe said, suggesting that the government would still try to intercede for those who failed the examinations with British authorities.

Proficiency in English language is one of the prerequisites for landing the jobs, which will see a nurse with a diploma certificate earn a monthly salary of 2,000 sterling pounds, equivalent of Sh300,000 at the current exchange rate.

Those with degree certificates, on the other hand, will earn a handsome 3,000 sterling pounds or about Sh450,000 upon signing the contract with the British National Health Service.

Bilateral agreement

Scheme is contained in a bilateral agreement between Kenya and the UK on collaboration on Health Care Workforce signed on July 29.

Besides the handsome pay, all the nurses will be given three months free accommodation on arrival for the three-year contract which is renewable for another three years. 

The British government will also foot air tickets expenses for all those departing with each nurse receiving a further 5,000 sterling pounds (Sh750,000) as relocation allowance. 

“Those willing to take permanent UK citizenship will also be eligible after working for five years,” said Labour Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui, who was part of the negotiating team for the deal. He also said Kenyan nurses who will relocate with their families will have their children educated for free.

“The UK government will also cater for medical insurance cover for all the enlisting nurses,” added Chelugui.

 This scheme’s implementing agencies include the UK  Department of Health and Social Care, National Health Service, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Oxford Hospital Foundation Trust and the University of Manchester and Christie Foundation Hospital.

Nairobi is expected to dispatch 5,000 health professionals to the UK this year. By last month more than 3,000 nurses had applied in the ministry’s portal.

The positions were advertised by the National Employment Authority where applications are evaluated before their documents are forwarded to the Ministry of Health for confirmation and verification for interviews.

Addressing clinical officers yesterday, Kagwe regretted the mass failure in the English test, because language proficiency was a prerequisite for getting the jobs.

“We test because there are certain tests one has to do, depending on the region of the world you are going to, for instance, the ones that are going to England have to get a new test in English and also test in computers, and our failure particularly in English is very high,” said Kagwe.

Appropriate time

CS defended the plan to export health workers to the UK, saying Kenya is already sufficiently served.

He said the Kenyan market is flooded with unemployed medical graduates and, therefore, the plan is to ensure they get to earn a decent living.

“I want to dispel those spreading rumours that we are sending our health workers away instead of hiring them.

One, we are sending them away after having satisfied our own market, and number two is that we are helping those that do not have jobs and geographical boundaries are not going to stop us from helping our workers if they want to work elsewhere,” he stated.

He also revealed that negotiations are going with countries in the Middle East and Europe to have Kenyan health workers exported there.

He, however, challenged health workers to ensure they have the universal standards of training before they apply for the jobs.

Under the current agreement, Kenya will send 20,000 nurses to the United Kingdom as it seeks to improve the welfare of its migrant workers abroad.

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