Page 26 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 17

Economy
Community

WHO DO YOU BLAME

when opportunity does not meet preparation?

Samuel Phillips

There are certain tests that one has to do, deal for Kenyan nurses to work as when opportunities are presented to
depending on the region in the world that health workers in the UK. But, like them? It may be and it may not be.
you are going to. For instance, the ones who every job requires some form of But here is the thing I am thinking:
are going to England have got to do tests interview, test or exams for accep-
in English, and they have got to do tests, I tance, the nurses were tested in an There is a quote I came across a
think, in computers. And, our failure rate, exam. But according to the CS, out long time ago, it says “Success is
particularly in English, is extremely high. of 300 nurses that were examined, when preparation meets opportu-
True Daktari? We sent 300 people to do only 10 of them passed the English nity.” This is absolutely correct and
the English exams, 10 passed. 10 passed. exam that was required for the job. should be thought about critically.
So, I am challenging you that this is going
to happen. I mean, we are going to negoti- Now, I am not writing this article Every field of endeavor has its own
ate, yes, but you are going to have to pass to bash or speak against the Kenyan specific requirements and every
the exams. Not me, you. So, when we do nurses who “failed” the English aspiration for success must be met
those exams, let’s prepare ourselves, let’s set exams (knowing the English lan- with commensurate preparations.
the standards. Prof, let’s set the standards, guage is required to work in the UK, As Afrikans, we have delayed for
so that we are sure that there is no exam, which an English society, thought too long in taking back our place as
anywhere on earth, that a clinical officer it’s not a measure of intelligence) the cradle of humanity and creativ-
trained in Kenya can fail- but to point out something that is ity. We can no longer let ourselves
Kenya Health CS Mutahi Kagwe. quite beyond failing of English or be found wanting when it’s time to
any other language in an exam. manifest who we are as a people. We
he above quote was taken cannot allow opportunities to pass
from a speech the Kenya Is it possible that Afrika is the way it us by, simply because we are not
Health CS made during is right now because many Afrikans prepared to take up the positions
Ta session with Kenyan are walking around complaining meant for us.
nurses. Apparently, the Kenyan about what foreigners are doing Am I speaking about a lost oppor-
President, Uhuru Kenyatta, on his against Afrika, while not spending tunity to become a nurse in the UK?
last visit to the UK brokered a job time to really prepare to take over Not really...

26 | we tell the true afrikan story