By Amoto Ndiewo
The Ministry of Health has launched an English Training Programme to improve the quality of nursing in Kenya. This came after a debacle where only 10 out of 300 nurses who were to be employed in the United Kingdom passed the English Proficiency Test.
Speaking during the launch of the six week training program at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Nairobi, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe acknowledged that the program would create an internationally recognized work force.
The CS admitted that many Kenyan nurses were missing out on chances offered abroad after failing English Proficiency Test, hence the need for training.
The statement comes in the wake of remarks made in October 2021, claiming that out of 300 nurses who applied for the English Proficiency Test only 10 qualified.
The CS said he was vilified for saying that Kenyans were failing in the English language.
“It beats logic that Kenyans can speak good English but that is not to say that we pass professional exams as needed in the international community circles,” said the CS, asserting that 12, 000 health workers were rolling out of medical colleges yearly.
The CS who called on the authorities to exercise fairness while selecting the nurses who acquire opportunities in the UK revealed that some 250 students will access online training and 25 others will be trained physically. The students are headed for the United Kingdom.
The launch was attended by KMTC board Chairman Zachary Muburi and the Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya Ms. Josephine Gauld amongst others.
