Re: [seul-edu] Open Source Applications Certification

[Evan Leibovitch <evan@lpi.org>]

Aigars Mahinovs wrote:
> Hello,
>
> On Wed, 11 Jun 2003 16:38:13 -0400 (EDT), Evan Leibovitch <evan@lpi.org>
> wrote:
>
> > As a matter of fact, you might even find some LPI people here on
> > this=20 list and capable of answering any questions. ;-)
>
> Let's make it a straigt and direct question.
> Let's take Latvia for example. We have 2000 schools each with an average
> of 50 students ending the studies each year. If we want them all to go
> trought a test and give those, who pass LPI and ECDL sertificates. How
> musch would that cost us?
I know a little about the ECDL program but not much, it is a proprietary
program that is somewhat lower level than we intend; furthermore, it
concentrates on Windows.

Normally the LPI exams can be taken at any Prometric or VUE testing 
centre worldwide (the same locations at which Microsoft, Novell and 
other IT certification tests are done). The exam, delivered that way, 
costs either $100 or €120 depending on where the exam is taken.

We know fully well that the above cost is far too much in many 
economies.  For this reason, we have undertaken both short-term and 
long-term projects to alleviate the problem.

In the short term, LPI is setting up a small network of proctors who are
qualified to deliver paper-based LPI exams at low cost. Next week I will 
be personally going to São Paulo where I will be administering LPI exams 
which will cost 150 Real (about $50) for *both* 101 and 102. At the same 
time, I will be training people from LPI-Brasil to be administering 
exams locally, allowing labs to be delivered approximately once per 
month in various locations around Brazil.

Similar programs such as this have taken place in China, Germany, Japan,
the US and Canada. Later this year we will be giving more exams like 
this in the UK, China, Australia and Vietnam -- and the offer is open to 
any country that would like to take part.

Indeed, we are looking to expand this network to be able to deliver
inexpensive LPI exams worldwide.

For the longer term, we are looking for an alternative method of exam
delivery that would allow us to provide hands-on computer-delivered 
exams, anywhere in the world, for about $25 each.

Evan Leibovitch
President
Linux Professional Institute
evan@lpi.org