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23rd May 1991, Page 31
23rd May 1991
Page 31
Page 31, 23rd May 1991 — BACK TO SCHOOL
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• For many years the Royal Society of Art's Certificate of Professional Competence has been accepted as the entry ticket to a career in road transport. But this month the first candidates for the Chartered Institute of Transport's Certificate in Transport take their exams. The new qualification has received Government approval —and it will be recognised by Licensing Authorities as proof of professional competence.

The CIT is adamant that its new qualification has not been introduced as a direct competitor to the CPC. But when the CIT announced the initiative eight months ago its chairman, Alan Jones, the UK managing director of TNT, attacked the effectiveness of the multiple choice section of the CPC: "Up to now these examinations have been based on a memory test, and those blessed with a photographic memory go sailing through," he said. "But does it make them any the wiser in practical terms? How much do you really know about a subject when all you're faced with is putting a tick in one of the four boxes?" (CM 11-17 Oct 1990).

Since then he has said that the Certificate in Transport is superior to the CPC because it is a test of skill as well as memory. The CIT exam consists of two papers: one is a multiple choice with short written answers while the other requires essay-type answers.

The association hopes to put up to 500 candidates through its exam annually; more than 70,000 a year take the CPC. "We are looking to give a basic qualification in the road transport industry designed to start people off in our own exam network which will lead to junior management roles in the industry," says Tony Pomeroy, the CIT's director of education, training and membership. The exam was introduced as part of initiatives to double the association's 11,000 UK membership; students who pass the exam become associate members of the CIT.

Pomeroy says that the CIT exam takes students to a higher level than the CPC. It also eases students into the CIT's membership courses by exempting them from the road freight exam paper.

The RSA recently revised the CPC to bring it into line with an EC directive. Since January it has put more emphasis on marketing, management techniques, the environment and dangerous goods. But according to the DTp there are no plans to introduce written answers.

The RSA, however, believes that its multiple choice format is still effective: "Unlike magazine quizzes each answer is plausible enough to be right," says the RSA's Sue Martin. "Sometimes you have to be more sure of the ground if you see four possibilities altogether,"

She admits that the CPC is a test of knowledge and not skill: "Candidates have to display the professional knowledge needed to carry out the work as an operator. This knowledge is later reinforced in their working life." El by Juliet Parish


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