UK English Test: Only 10 out of 300 Kenyan nurses who took the mandatory UK immigration English test passed. The test is part of a procedure for Kenyan nurses to immigrate as health workers to the United Kingdom. This shocking statistic was revealed by the Cabinet Secretary for Health Mutahi Kagwe.
“Out of 300 health workers sent for an English language test only 10 passed. We had negotiated for clinical workers for job exports but this turn of events is unfortunate,” said Kagwe. “But to have this, we will need to have a universal standard. Failure in English among our health workers sent to work in England is extremely high. Let’s prepare ourselves, let us set the standards. Issue of quality training is crucial.”
Kenya was expected to send between 1,000 and 2,000 nurses to the UK by October. Already, over 3,000 nurses have expressed interest in traveling to the UK for work.
Nurses seeking these jobs are being required to possess a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a recognized institution, a license from the Nursing Council, a valid police clearance certificate, and proof that they are not currently employed in the public or private sector.
Although it was not in the advertisement from the Ministry of Labour, the nurses are required to have at least 18 months experience. They will also will be required to take a multiple-choice English proficiency test and a computer-based test for UK nursing midwifery.
Kenyans rated second most fluent English speakers
Kenyans have previously been rated as the second most fluent English speakers in Africa by Education First, a global private language tutor which is based in Switzerland. The English Proficiency Index (EPI) ranked Kenya behind South Africa. Globally, Kenya was placed at position 18 while South Africa came in sixth. The ranking placed Netherlands as the world’s best in competency level.