The Federation of Ghana Medical Students' Associations (FGMSA) has called for a review of the Medical and Dental Council's (MDC) Common Registration Examination (CRE), questioning the need for an additional examination for locally trained medical and dental graduates. FGMSA President, Samuel A. Issifu, stated that the concerns raised by medical and dental students should not be mistaken for resistance to regulation or competency assessment. The Federation represents over 6,000 medical and dental students across Ghana.
FGMSA's position is centered on the distinction between strengthening standards and duplicating assessment. The Federation welcomes efforts by the MDC to harmonize and standardize final qualifying examinations across accredited medical and dental schools. However, it disagrees with the need for another stand-alone examination after students have satisfied their final qualifying requirements. FGMSA is questioning what additional competency the separate CRE intends to establish that a properly harmonized, nationally benchmarked, and effectively MDC-supervised final qualifying examination cannot establish.
Medical and dental students undergo years of academic and clinical training before sitting final qualifying examinations to establish whether they possess the required knowledge, clinical skills, and professional competencies. FGMSA argues that where legitimate variations exist in the quality or rigour of these examinations across institutions, the regulatory response should be to address those variations at their source. The Federation advocates for stronger MDC oversight of institutional assessments, including common national competency standards and assessment blueprints.
FGMSA proposes harmonized final qualifying examinations, standardized OSCE structures and scoring, examiner training and calibration, and stronger external moderation. The Federation believes that regulatory intervention should address deficiencies identified and hold institutions accountable where they fail to meet prescribed national standards. FGMSA points to the MDC's efforts towards harmonizing institutional final examinations, including measures announced for aligning theory and OSCE assessments with national standards.
The Federation has raised concerns about the cumulative academic, financial, and welfare implications of another high-stakes examination following final qualifying examinations. However, FGMSA's principal objection is not financial, but rather whether the separate examination establishes an additional competency that cannot already be reliably assured through strengthened, nationally standardized, and MDC-supervised final examinations. Issifu stressed that the position should not be interpreted as seeking a lower threshold for entry into medical or dental practice.
FGMSA has also raised concerns about stakeholder engagement surrounding the implementation of the CRE. The Federation had previously written to the MDC requesting an opportunity to present its concerns, questions, and proposals, but had not received the audience sought. Issifu said that the Federation's call for engagement does not mean that every position advanced by students must prevail, but rather that those directly affected should have a genuine opportunity to be heard and have legitimate questions answered.
The CRE debate raises a larger question about the medical education system Ghana wants to build, according to FGMSA. The Federation remains open to constructive engagement with the MDC and other stakeholders towards a framework that maintains rigorous national standards without unnecessary duplication. Its concluding message emphasizes that it is not asking Ghana to choose between high standards and its students, but rather to build a system capable of upholding both.
Key points
- FGMSA questions the need for MDC's Common Registration Examination, citing duplication of competency assessment.
- The Federation proposes strengthening MDC oversight of institutional assessments and harmonizing final qualifying examinations.
- FGMSA calls for meaningful engagement with stakeholders on the implementation of the CRE.
