City and Guilds postpones examinations two days to commencement day

A decision by City and Guilds seems not to have gone well with parents whose children were expected to sit for examinations offered by the board starting from 1st December 2015.

Findings by Malawi24 indicate that students who anticipated to sit for Diploma and Advanced Diploma examinations in various courses have been told to wait until July next year. Students were communicated of the change two days to the exams’ commencement date.

One of the parents, Mwandida Chilambo, said the development is distressing and worrisome. She said the board should have communicated in good time as the change will cause stress to students.

“This is a waste of time and resources to both us as parent and children. As a guardian I am very disappointed to see the examinations being postponed at the eleventh hour. Students could have told in advance,” she said.

According to the memo signed by Continuing Education Center (CEC) Administrative Officer, Mr Chikafutwa, and directed to coordinators, students studying courses 8030-22 Electrical and Electronics Engineering and 8030-23 Advanced Diploma in Electrical and Electronics will sit for examinations in June 2016.

About 90 students registered and were expected to write examination at the institution.

But speaking with this publication, Director for CEC Dr Francis Chikunkhuzeni said he is optimistic that students will sit for their examinations in January next year. He said the change has occurred due to the requirement by the board that every student should fulfil some of r0the requirements.

“City and Guilds require that students should have practical assignment attached to the project before they write theory examinations and this was not fulfilled. What the centre is trying now is to see if we can negotiate so that perhaps students possibly write their examinations in January. “It will depend on board whether they can do that or not. This particular correspond should be taken in the context that we have our own student from Polytechnic. Others are from elsewhere and did not have any practical examination. As such there were a lot of gaps in the preliminary requirement for the board to admit them,” he said.

For the examinations, board charges every student MK74,500 per subject which also include practical assignments and other necesitaties

City and Guilds is the United Kingdom’s leading awarding body for International Vocational Qualifications (IVQs) that are designed specifically for the international market place. There are categorised into two, Craft and Technician, and they are available at three levels. Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma. The body also offer General Vocational Qualifications (GVQs). The awards were developed for the UK market but they appropriate for overseas too.