Many drop out along the way, having cost SA taxpayers huge amounts
03 November 2024 - 13:16
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Isn’t it time that sending medical students to Cuba was halted? They are out of their comfort zone. They have to learn Spanish, which is hugely difficult at that age. They have no family to rely on, the food is different and the culture shock great.
So many drop out along the way, having cost SA taxpayers huge amounts. Those that don’t drop out, on return to SA find they can’t get into our medical schools, probably because they are simply not good enough, even though they have passed as doctors in Cuba.
They have to repeat their final year here, which is also costly. The millions that are used for this Cuban exercise could be used in a much better way by building a university in SA that accepts these students who can’t get into mainstream universities but want to do medicine.
These students could be taught in a slightly different way in that they will be going to work in the rural areas. But the huge costs of sending students to Cuba should be stopped. Let’s hope the government of national unity has a rethink.
Barbie Sandle Constantia
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
LETTER: Stop sending students to Cuba
Many drop out along the way, having cost SA taxpayers huge amounts
Isn’t it time that sending medical students to Cuba was halted? They are out of their comfort zone. They have to learn Spanish, which is hugely difficult at that age. They have no family to rely on, the food is different and the culture shock great.
So many drop out along the way, having cost SA taxpayers huge amounts. Those that don’t drop out, on return to SA find they can’t get into our medical schools, probably because they are simply not good enough, even though they have passed as doctors in Cuba.
They have to repeat their final year here, which is also costly. The millions that are used for this Cuban exercise could be used in a much better way by building a university in SA that accepts these students who can’t get into mainstream universities but want to do medicine.
These students could be taught in a slightly different way in that they will be going to work in the rural areas. But the huge costs of sending students to Cuba should be stopped. Let’s hope the government of national unity has a rethink.
Barbie Sandle
Constantia
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
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