DAMMAM: Educational institutes and training centers of the General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training have informed students and trainees of the Ministry of Civil Service’s decision to stop calculating the Cambridge IT certificate as a skill or advantage for employment in IT or data registration jobs, a local daily reported.

A report by Al Hayat said the ministry confirmed in its circular to all training and education facilities that the classifications at the ministry do not provide certificate holders any advantage with regards to job grade or rank, be it in the 5th rank or others, and does not consider the certificate as indicative of skills for such jobs, 

The ministry also warned about the nature of advertisements about courses and training programs, noting that all institutions must adhere to provisions and instructions and not advertise any guaranteed job advantages based on the certificate.

“All institutions bear responsibility for this and employees do not have the right to file a complaint after being hired if they do not obtain the ranking or job grades expected.”

A source at the General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training said the ministry informed all relevant institutions of the decision a month and a half ago, allowing them ample time to change any advertisements related to training and programs for the second semester.

Trainees and job applicants for IT jobs expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision, noting that “halting calculation of the Cambridge certificate in the employment classification will reduce the employment grade, as well as as salaries and incentives.”

They said the Cambridge certificate was one of the first certificates adopted and approved by the ministry, and training and educational institutions, but now appointments will be based on reduced titles and benefits.

“The decision comes after we obtained the certificates and paid high fees,” says Nouf bin Ali, an applicant for an IT position. “I believe this will limit future employment in the public sector because the training certificates provide titles in the first class.”