FOLLOWING ON the success of their January workshops, City & Guilds is organising mock examinations for 17 of their approved centres on March 12.
These mock exams will give 2,000 students and teachers across the island the opportunity to find out how well they would perform if they where to sit a real exam later on in the year.
The planned mock examinations follows the success of workshops for senior educators from 34 national institutions, including technical high schools, community colleges, upgraded high schools and private schools.
Mr. David Collard, product manager of City & Guilds in London, and Mrs. Muriel Scott of Moneague College, conducted the workshops that focused on a mapping exercise undertaken by Mico and Moneague Colleges.
The mapping exercise compared eight City & Guilds qualifications to the equivalent CXC qualifications including Com-mercial Numeracy, English for Business Communications, Office Procedures, Business Studies, Book-keeping & Accounts, Type-writing and a range of IT courses such as Word Processing and Spreadsheet.
The mapping exercise highlighted similarities in content between City & Guilds and CXCs. Educators welcomed the findings, as it allows teachers to introduce internationally recognised qualifications as an option for their students.
Mrs. Curline Christie, principal of St. Andrew Technical High School (STATHS), said the workshops were "an excellent option for all schools and should have come earlier".
Eckle Bailey, acting principal of Clan Carthy High School said, "These exams are arranged to give every student in a learning institution a sense of achievement."
Educators say the planned examinations are welcomed offers they will give them a 'no risk' evaluation of their potential success.
COMPLEMENTARY
QUALIFICATION
Mrs. Marva Duncanson, regional City & Guilds representative said, "What we're offering is a tool for our educators, a complementary qualification, not a substitute to our national exams. City & Guilds Pitman Qualifications reflect the content of our CXCs, making them easy to introduce, but more importantly, they offer a staged approach to exams allowing students gradual success from Level 1 through to Level 4 rather than a final exam at the end of 4 years.
"This gives students struggling with an end-of-year exam the opportunity and confidence to achieve qualifications at their own pace, as well as giving them an internationally recognised qualification which helps those who are already thinking of their future."
City & Guilds was founded in 1887 under Royal Charter and offers qualification in over 100 countries around the world making them one of the most recognisable names in education and training. Examinations are offered at different levels giving candidates the opportunity to gain certification on a gradual basis from Level 1 through to Level 4. Approved centres offering these qualifications can set their own dates ensuring educators have the flexibility they need at exam time.
