U.S. restricts IT certificates

[Ismahan]

Salam All,

I liked to share this article that i read in a local newspaper with ya....

 

U.S. restricts IT certificates

Dubai |By Bassam Za'za' | 10-06-2002

 

 

Nationals from countries accused by the U.S. of supporting terrorism are barred from the Microsoft Certified System Engineering programme.

 

The American Administration has ordered all its American Information Technology (IT) companies and institutions worldwide not to award the MCSE certificates to nationals of seven countries that were described as supporters of terrorism.

 

According to the Netherlands-based Prometric Testing Centre (PTC), a leading worldwide provider of comprehensive technology-based testing and assessment services in IT, the American government has barred Syrian, Libyan, Iraqi, Iranian, Sudanese North Korean and Cuban citizens from obtaining MCSE certificates. Nevertheless, they are permitted to receive the MCSE training courses.

 

In addition to Prometric's security policies, the Authorised Prometric Testing Centres (APTC) all over the world were restricted from administrating exams to candidates who either live in or have an address in one of the embargoed countries.

 

The following statement was issued to all Prometric Test Centre Administrators (TCA) and signed by the Prometric Channel Management: "Attention to all APTC Channel Partners; in today's environment of heightened security, Prometric appreciates your continued focus on our test centre security policies and procedures.

 

The following quote taken from a recent Prometric communication, highlights the importance of test centre security: 'The integrity of the testing process is of paramount importance to Prometric and we are committed to working with our partners to maintain the highest level of security standards and business ethics.

 

"We will not tolerate criminal activity of any kind and we will seek to prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law,' said Michael Brannick the President of Prometric and Chief Executive Officer."

 

The statement continued: "All our testing clients echo Prometric's concern regarding the integrity of exam content, candidate identity and a secure testing environment.

 

"With this in mind, Prometric would like to re-emphasize a few basic security procedures. For a complete description of all your APTC Operating Agreement and the APTC Global Policies and Procedures Manual available for download at the website: www.prometric.com/aptc.

 

"Moreover, the important security policies were: first, all Prometric TCA are required to pass a TCA exam, our policies prohibit TCAs from holding IT certification.

 

"Second, TCAs must follow proper candidate check-in procedures that include verification of proper candidate identification, candidate signing of lock book and completion of the Testing Centre Regulation form that is available on the website.

 

"Third, candidates are only permitted to bring white boards or blank scratch paper into the secure testing area. These items must be collected from the candidate at the end of the exam and either erased or destroyed. This prevents candidates from leaving the testing centre with exam content.

 

"Fourth, the TCAs are responsible for active proctoring of candidates by observing test-taking activities at all times which may include audio-visual monitoring and recording.

 

"Fifth, and in addition to Prometric's security policies, it is also necessary to comply with restrictions placed on Prometric by the U.S. embargo.

 

"These restrictions prevent APTCs from administering exams to candidates who either live in or have address from an embargoed country. Current embargoed countries are: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria."

 

The statement finally requested: "If you have any question after reviewing the APTC Operating Agreement and the Global Policies and Procedures Manual please contact your Channel Representative. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping to maintain a secure testing network."

 

One of the Prometric officials at the main office in the Netherlands, assured that the decision was taken by the American government and the PTC and Microsoft had nothing to do with it.

 

The decision has created problems to the licensed educational centres and institutions in the UAE that cooperate with other American academic institutions. Thus, a large number of students from the seven nationalities had joined these centres before this decision was announced.

 

Sami Malik, Test Administrator in Software Technology Group Middle East Institution - APTC, told Gulf News: "We heard some rumours saying that the main reason behind that decision was because those seven countries weren't paying the testing fees to the United States."

 

He added: "We are sorry for our students who registered for the courses and the testing. No body in the UAE will be taking it. The business will be affected because there are candidates who register from those nationalities and who don't meet the new requirements.

 

"Logically speaking, we can't do anything regarding the new decision. That's a new rule and we are only clients for these online exams of the MCSE so we can't violate the rule."

 

Malik proceeded to express his own view: "The decision is unfair because many students are earning their living through such certificates. They have been limited from upgrading their technological skills and experience. May be the decision was political especially since lots of changes have occurred all over the world since the September 11 crisis."

 

Suresh Puravamkra, Promteric Administrator for the Aptech Computer Educational Centre in Dubai – APTC, remarked: "Actually, the countries that are highly affected are those under which the United Nations sanctions are imposed. In the UAE, the registration system doesn't allow us to register candidates who aren't residing in the country.

 

"I think that the decision is political and that's something bad. Such a decision blocks candidates from the right to education."

 

Gulf News contacted the National Institute of Information Technology - APTC, but officials refused to comment on the decision.

 

Shafeela Anwar, Project Coordinator at the Galaxy Computer Education and Training Institute, said: "I don't know why such a decision has been taken. It might be a political reason.

 

"The decision isn't going to affect the APTC business in the UAE directly unless people didn't meet the new requirements and weren't residing in the country. We were informed about the decision through a letter from the PTC."

 

Neetiraj Singh, Manager of the Galaxy in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, said : "Education should be treated as education. Definitely the decision will affect the IT industry especially that we are living the age of technology."

 

Syed Omair Ali, a Partner Coordinator at Microsoft, told Gulf News: "I strongly disagree with such a decision. It is an unreasonable one."

[QUANTUM LEAP]

Even if they passed the policy, I dont see the Logisticis working. Anyone could register with adifferent name and still achieve the Certification.

[Ismahan]

Any one can register the course and attend it... but for the Exams I doubt that u can register with another name and achieve the exam..cuz at AVU centers u have to show ur identity card and ur passport which will show from where u came from ... so that is how they ganna restrict those people from taking those certificates. By the way I guess somalia was in that list but they exclude it in the last minute ...I WONDER WHY!!!

 

PEACE...