PDM wants heads to roll
Since 2013, more than 600 Namibian students have been granted scholarships to study medicine or dentistry in Russia, Ukraine, Zambia, India, South Africa, Tanzania and Ghana.
Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani says someone in the government must account for the training medical students have received in Europe.
This follows comments by Cornelius Weyulu, the registrar of the Health Professions Councils of Namibia (HPCNA), who said many foreign-trained graduates, especially from China and Eastern Europe, were “poorly trained” and were “found wanting as interns in many a respect”.
Venaani said he would push for a parliamentary inquiry into the approval of bursaries for these students, some of whom had apparently failed Grade 12 and did not qualify for local university admission.
According to him the government has spent on average N$87 000 per month on these students for six consecutive years.
That would translate to N$1 million per student per year.
“We therefore call for a parliamentary inquiry into this matter. It is important that we understand those responsible for the approval of loans at the time and how these so-called 'Grade 12 poor performers' were able to leave the country for further studies on the ticket of government,” he said.
Since 2013, more than 600 Namibian students have been granted scholarships to study medicine or dentistry in Russia, Ukraine, Zambia, India, South Africa, Tanzania and Ghana.
In 2016, the Medical and Dental Council of Namibia implemented pre-internship evaluations after concerns were raised about the skills and knowledge of returning graduates from particularly Eastern European and Chinese institutions, Weyulu's affidavit in a current High Court case stated.
Foreign doctors vs graduates
Venaani also accused foreign doctors who are employed locally and appointed as supervisors to Namibian medical graduates of trying their best to deny them entry into the local market in an effort to protect their own jobs.
“We also understand that some of these foreign doctors are planning to set up their own medical institutions where they will train new doctors. Foreign doctors must therefore declare their interests; we understand that by trying to [deny Namibian graduates] entrance into the market they are protecting their own jobs,” he said.
Scope
According to Venaani graduates complained that they were merely given the scope of the pre-internship test and no study material was made available to them.
Venaani believes that the system is working against these graduates and that the government has spent too much on them to drop them now as incompetent.
Namibian Sun sent questions to Weyulu, who is yet to respond.
JEMIMA BEUKES
This follows comments by Cornelius Weyulu, the registrar of the Health Professions Councils of Namibia (HPCNA), who said many foreign-trained graduates, especially from China and Eastern Europe, were “poorly trained” and were “found wanting as interns in many a respect”.
Venaani said he would push for a parliamentary inquiry into the approval of bursaries for these students, some of whom had apparently failed Grade 12 and did not qualify for local university admission.
According to him the government has spent on average N$87 000 per month on these students for six consecutive years.
That would translate to N$1 million per student per year.
“We therefore call for a parliamentary inquiry into this matter. It is important that we understand those responsible for the approval of loans at the time and how these so-called 'Grade 12 poor performers' were able to leave the country for further studies on the ticket of government,” he said.
Since 2013, more than 600 Namibian students have been granted scholarships to study medicine or dentistry in Russia, Ukraine, Zambia, India, South Africa, Tanzania and Ghana.
In 2016, the Medical and Dental Council of Namibia implemented pre-internship evaluations after concerns were raised about the skills and knowledge of returning graduates from particularly Eastern European and Chinese institutions, Weyulu's affidavit in a current High Court case stated.
Foreign doctors vs graduates
Venaani also accused foreign doctors who are employed locally and appointed as supervisors to Namibian medical graduates of trying their best to deny them entry into the local market in an effort to protect their own jobs.
“We also understand that some of these foreign doctors are planning to set up their own medical institutions where they will train new doctors. Foreign doctors must therefore declare their interests; we understand that by trying to [deny Namibian graduates] entrance into the market they are protecting their own jobs,” he said.
Scope
According to Venaani graduates complained that they were merely given the scope of the pre-internship test and no study material was made available to them.
Venaani believes that the system is working against these graduates and that the government has spent too much on them to drop them now as incompetent.
Namibian Sun sent questions to Weyulu, who is yet to respond.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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