Dear Lactnetters

Thanks to Jeanine Klaus for her well-stated post re. Lactnet being a forum
for open discussion and sharing.  I had already drafted the letter below,
before reading Jeanine's post, and was a little apprehensive that perhaps it
was not appropriate for Lactnet.  We are still finding our feet here re.
organisational matters and I find the comments on the politics/functioning of
the various breastfeeding groups interesting.  Hopefully, it will all help
towards us getting more focussed and structured.  I don't want to read about
anyone's dirty laundry though please!

Someone said a while ago that they had found the exam "challenging" - it
certainly was, and difficult, and confusing!   I have no feel for how I did.
Whether or not I achieved a high enough mark to pass, my concerns on how to
go about setting a reasonable standard for S.A. remain the same, so here
goes...

I'm wondering what can be done to make the exam more attractive, relevant,
accessible to South Africans and other African colleagues (what's happening
in Asia - any IBCLCs thereabouts?).  Whilst I realise that there  are IBCLCs
all over the world,  I perceive the exam as American, not "International".
I really like the idea of a universal "Gold Standard" in breastfeeding
education.  What about some flexibility in the examination format?  I really
battled with having only the multiple choice format throughout.  I had to
read the scenario-type questions several times before I could decipher what
was being asked.  How second language people manage, I don't know.  What
about some options to cater for people who have specific  interests, maybe
Exam 1 the same for everybody, covering lactation management;  and Exam 2
some choice in which questions to answer, with topics being examined in more
detail eg: Public Health,  Marketing issues, Course development, unusual
clinical situations & accompanying devices, etc.  (these are off the top of
my head, I don't have a background in education - just want to hear your
thoughts please).

A couple of colleagues feel that we need something more relevant to S.A. and
we are not likely to "sell" the IBLCE as it is now.  The difficulty and
expense in collecting resource material, let alone the cost of the actual
exam, puts it out of  reach for many.  Before writing to the Board with my
concerns,  I wanted to sound you all out and find out if  anyone identifies
with me, or if I'm being my usual obstreperous self!

Exam Board/Committee:  Maybe it would help if there were a couple of people
on these committees, who were neither North American nor IBCLC.  Maybe
Wellstart fellowship graduates from other continents (I did note that Minda
Lazarov is there).   There are a few people from Africa, particularly
Uganda, whose contribution may be valuable (I don't know about willingness
or availability).

I would be interested in hearing your ideas about the exam format,
particularly (but not only) if you are not American.  How did the Ozzies go
about promoting the exam?  And maybe even more important, providing a
supportive structure for those who have written?  I was amazed to hear that
Australia has over 1000 L.Cs.  Perhaps one or other of the Kathleens can let
me know if all this is appropriate for the Lactnet forum.

Regards, and thanks to all of you for making Lactnet such a stimulating
exchange.
--
Lynn Enraght-Moony                                 [log in to unmask]
Phone: +27 11 782-4100                         Fax: +27 11 888-1086
Snail: P O Box 222, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, SOUTH AFRICA