English Medium Medical Universities and their South Asian Graduates are Creating Bad Image of Kyrgyzstan

English Medium Medical Universities and their South Asian Graduates are Creating Bad Image of Kyrgyzstan

Background:

Many foreign students especially from South Asian countries (India and Pakistan) select Kyrgyz Republic for getting education in medicine. Most of such students have failed to get admission in local colleges because of low percentage in college (Pre- Medical College, 12 Class) or failed to reach merit list. Over 1500 Pakistani and Indian students, mostly selected from less developed area, are studying in Kyrgyz Republic in Medicine on Self-Finance bases. All of these students have selected Kyrgyzstan just because it is economically suitable for them as compared with countries like China, Russia and have ease in getting admission due to lake of any merit system in medical universities.

Universities in Kyrgyzstan, offering English Medium Medical course for foreign students because foreigners prefer to study in English rather than in Russian which is medium of instruction for local students and country’s official language. Main purpose of these universities is to earn money from students as these students are separately instructed in English, have separate timetables, have separate residencies from local students and have almost no contact with local students studying at same university. It is a notable that there is no control on such universities in terms of number of students getting admission per year. In every country, universities are bound to give admission to specific number of students according to facilities they possess. But these universities don’t follow such rules. Secondly, many universities pretend to take an internal examination in English and Biology but in the history of English medium medical education in Kyrgyzstan, not a single student have failed in this internal exam which indicates that universities intentionally want to give admission to all the students just to earn money.

After getting independence in 1991, Kyrgyz Republic has started teaching English in his institutions. Many English couching centers are working almost all over the Kyrgyzstan which indicates that English Language learning is a new trend for local students after the collapse of Soviet Union when German and French were taught as foreign languages.

Presently, when English is just emerging as a new foreign language in Kyrgyzstan, universities are offering Medical degrees in English Medium. Medical literature is more complex and being taught by teachers who got their own medical education in Russian medium resulting in low quality of education.

After getting degree from Kyrgyzstan, foreign students have to pass an Exam in their home countries for getting license for practicing medicine. This exam is named as MCI Exam in India (Medical Council of India) and PMDC Exam in Pakistan (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council). The result of these exams which is actually the indication of quality of medical education by Kyrgyzstan is awfully poor. In 2010, 110 Pakistani students Graduated in English Medium from Kyrgyz Republic appeared in PMDC exam and only 3 of them passed the examination. However, it is interesting to note the same question paper was given to 32 Pakistani medical graduates from AllamaIqbal Medical College Lahore, Pakistan and all of them passed the exam. Thus, Kyrgyz republic was highlighted in local media of India and Pakistan. From previous 4 years, hundreds of medical graduates from Kyrgyzstan are appearing in MCI and PMDC exams but passing ratio is only 2 to 3 percent.

Not only this, but due to language barrier, students remain unaware of traditions and culture of Kyrgyzstan and after getting their degrees from Kyrgyzstan, they are not the true representatives and guides of Kyrgyz culture.

So the problem is that foreign graduates who get their degree in Medicine in English Medium are creating Bad Image of Kyrgyzstan.

  

Recommendations:

1: There should be a control on universities in term of number of offered seats for admission. Universities should be watched if they have enough facilities for admitted students.

2: There should be criteria of admission in medical institution. Especially, university must demand the official exam of IELTS or TOEFL as all other universities in European countries.  So foreign students must think before coming to Kyrgyzstan that medical education can’t be earned just by paying money. Many students have completed their college education in regional language which was not English so students themselves don’t know English properly. Focus should be on quality of education, not on the number of students. Thus, a state examination system should be introduced in order give admission to deserving students in medical universities.

3: Medium of instruction should be declared for instruction of medical studies. One of following strategies can be adopted.

А) Medium of instruction should be Russian Medium. Because Students have to deal with patients who don’t know English language and teachers themselves studied in Russian medium and can explain their thoughts more expressively in Russian language. Students who are willing to study in Russian Medium should provide a one year preparatory course before starting original medical studies. In future, students will have no problem because all medical terms are in Latin or Greek languages and these terms are used alike in Russian and English. If teachers can project medical knowledge in English after completing their own education in Russian then students can also learn enough English to deal with patients after their degree in Russian Medium. Many developed countries like Germany, offered there medical courses in German language only and when they have enough faculty who can teach in English , then they are offering medical courses in English also.

  

В) Half of medical course should be in English Medium and Clinical Studies which usually starts after 3^rd year must be in Russian medium like many of Russian Universities and other universities in other countries where official language in not English. Non clinical subjects should be taught in English and during this time, universities should teach them medical Russian language. And when clinical studies starts, all subjects should be taught in Russian only. Thus, students will have proper time to adjust in environment and can learn two foreign languages.

  

С) If any university gets enough students whose English is accepted at International standard then only those universities should allow teaching medicine in English which has faculty members who have potential to teach in English medium.This should be judged by internationally accepted language exams like TOEFL and IELTS only. And this level should be judged yearly and teachers should be provided with refresher courses.

Ammar Younas