THE Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has invited employers in the public and private sectors to recognise certification by City & Guilds Institute in mathematics and English language as sufficient for entry-level jobs. The ministry is also asking post-secondary institutions to accept this qualification for matriculation into their programmes.

Education Minister Ruel Reid made the disclosure recently while addressing a ceremony to open new administrative and staff facilities at Edith Dalton James High School in St Andrew.

He disclosed that currently, more than 10,000 students from across the country have attained up to Stage 3 certification in City & Guilds mathematics and English language at grade 11 and under the ministry’s Career Advancement Programme(CAP). These individuals are now ready to enter the world of work or to pursue further studies.

Minister Reid noted that the mappings have been done to show the equivalence of the United Kingdom-based City & Guilds certification at Stage 3 in Mathematics and English Language to the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

The City & Guilds new English skills qualification was first examined in Jamaica in June 2015. The examination provides certification for students who need an option to the concept-based CSEC English A examination. City & Guilds English is assessed via two modules: a written examination (reading and writing) that is set and marked externally in the United Kingdom, and an oral examination (speaking and listening) that is internally assessed under the oversight of external verifiers. The qualification is available in three stages with Stage 3 being the most advanced.

In the case of the new City & Guilds math skills, the mapping shows a parallel with the basic objectives of the CSEC examination to equip people to function in the real world. City & Guilds provides a progressive approach through stages one, two, and three and covers the core of the CSEC exams. It is designed to provide the basic mathematics skills, knowledge and abilities necessary for any citizen in a contemporary society.

Certification in City & Guilds math skills ensures that the student has acquired the knowledge and skills needed to function effectively in everyday life. Emphasis is placed on seeing mathematics as an inter-related set of topics and using knowledge of the subject to develop fundamental thinking skills, and as a problem-solving tool.

Several entities have been approached to accept the City & Guilds certification including the HEART Trust/NTA, University Council of Jamaica, Jamaica Employer’s Federation, Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force.

In a recent letter to these entities, Minister Reid pointed out that the certification rate currently averages 82 per cent for CAP students in City & Guilds English and mathematics. He argued that the City & Guilds qualifications give students an opportunity to advance to other levels on their career paths. In the case of mathematics and English qualifications, it allows students to gain the basic qualifications to move on to other levels.

It is noteworthy that City & Guilds also offers a wide range of vocational qualifications in several occupational areas across eight levels, from entry to high-order. These are designed to allow persons to cross borders and work with recognisable qualifications. City & Guilds is the market share leader in vocational qualifications in the UK and has a presence in 80 countries. The programmes are accredited by Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation in the UK.