Kenyan nurses fail English test for UK jobs
The government says only 10 out of 300 health workers who had applied to go and work in the United Kingdom passed the English language tests required.
The Kenyan nurses took a multiple-choice English proficiency test and a computer-based test for UK nursing midwifery, and upon arrival in the UK, they were also to take another test.
The CS made the revelation on Wednesday while attending the 23rd Kenya Clinical Officers Association Annual Scientific Conference at Pride Inn Paradise in Shanzu.
“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,” he said.
He then urged health workers to work hard to pass the employment standards set for jobs abroad.
The 1,000 to 2,000 caregivers were expected to travel next month and work under the National Health Service (NHS).
A fresh university graduate, for instance, was to earn at least Sh323,326 per month in the UK compared to Sh99,620 they would have earned in Kenya.
The CS said that despite this, the government will continue to negotiate for Kenyan health workers to work in Europe and the Middle East.
He also refuted claims that the government has resorted to exporting its labour workforce abroad instead of employing them.
So far, 3,329 nurses had expressed interest in the jobs and those who qualify were expected to travel to the UK later in the month.
In Kenya, participating institutions include Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTTRH), Kisii University, Egerton University, University of Nairobi, and Maseno University.