In Britain, the fate of 148 Indian nursing professionals hangs in the balance as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has initiated an inquiry into alleged malpractices during the Occupational English Test (OET). These nurses, predominantly from Kerala, took the OET at the Chandigarh centre in India post-August 2022.
The NMC has issued notices to these nurses, demanding explanations in an online hearing within two weeks. Failure to comply could result in severe repercussions, including the revocation of their PIN numbers, potentially leading to termination from their UK jobs and repatriation.
This situation extends beyond the 148 nurses in the UK, as similar cases have surfaced in the US and Australia, where individuals have been misled by fraudulent OET training organisations and exam centres.
The malpractice came to light when an OET employee, acting as a candidate, exposed irregularities at the Chandigarh centre. Following this, OET authorities warned regulatory bodies in multiple countries about the exam malpractice. Social media posts also alleged the deliberate leaking of question papers at certain OET exam centres in exchange for money.
After identifying the 148 nurses currently employed in the UK, OET authorities provided their details to the NMC. Subsequently, the NMC informed these individuals via email about the cancellation of their OET exams and offered them another opportunity to retake the test without incurring fees. This leniency reflects the NMC’s acknowledgment of the possibility that candidates may have unwittingly fallen victim to scams orchestrated by training centres.
This incident evokes parallels with the dismissal of approximately 500 nurses from Nigeria by the NMC last year for manipulating the Computer Based Test (CBT). Such occurrences have raised concerns about the credibility of nursing professionals from India seeking employment in the UK, mirroring the reputation challenges faced by Nigerian nurses in the past.
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