UK nursing council angry over exam results fraud in Ibadan

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) of the United Kingdom has brought to light evidence of widespread fraudulent activities at Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan, Nigeria.

This centre is pivotal for Nigerian nurses and midwives aspiring to work in the UK, serving as a platform for their computer-based test (CBT) which assesses clinical and numeracy competence.

Earlier in May, the NMC sounded an alarm over the possibility that registrations of 512 nurses and midwives who passed the CBT in this centre might be tainted with fraud or inaccuracies. Acting on this suspicion, the council reached out to the individuals associated with Yunnik, expressing its intent to meticulously investigate the data and concerns presented.

On Thursday, the NMC released an official statement, shedding light on their findings. The council stated, “While the majority of the individuals tested at the Yunnik centre are not considered fraudulent, there’s indisputable evidence of rampant fraudulent activity at the centre.” The suspected fraud includes the potential use of proxy testers – individuals taking tests on behalf of others. This has led the NMC to deem all CBT results from the Yunnik centre as unreliable and invalid.

For the NMC, upholding the integrity of its register is of paramount importance. They emphasized the need to ensure all registrants adhere to their proficiency standards, with a valid CBT result being a pivotal part of this assurance process.

Diving deeper into the specifics, out of the 515 professionals in question, 48 acquired their scores in a suspiciously quick time, casting doubts over the legitimacy of their results. These cases will be presented before an independent Investigating Committee to determine if fraudulent means were employed. Affected individuals will be granted a chance to retake the CBT three times and can present evidence or mitigating circumstances to the Investigating Committee.

While allegations of fraud won’t be pursued for the remaining 467 professionals, they will still need to re-sit the CBT test to validate their qualifications and remain on the NMC register.

Andrea Sutcliffe, NMC’s Chief Executive and Registrar, acknowledged the distress and uncertainty many might be feeling. She stressed the importance of upholding the sanctity of the register for the benefit of the UK’s healthcare system. She assured that they’ve kept stakeholders, including employers and trade unions, informed throughout this process.

According to data from The PUNCH, 3,383 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives were licensed to practice in the UK between April 1, 2022, and March 2023. Currently, 10,639 Nigerian nurses and midwives are practising in the UK.

With such substantial numbers, ensuring the authenticity of qualifications is critical, not just for the NMC, but for the broader UK healthcare system. This investigation underscores the council’s commitment to preserving the integrity of the profession.