As of Monday, June 30, the validity of more than 1,000,000 IT certificates for the State has expired. Specifically, by decision of EOPPEP, it is provided for A. Extension of the validity for six (6) months, i.e. until 30.06.2014, of the Computer Knowledge Certificates of the ECDL Hellas, Vellum GlobalEducational Services, Infotest and ICT Hellas bodies, which were issued up to and including the date of their certification by the O.E.E.K. and their validity expired on 31.12.2013.
B. Extension of the validity until 30.06.2014 of the Computer Knowledge Certificates issued by those certified by the O.E.E.K. ECDL Hellas SA, Vellum Global Educational Services, Infotest, ICT Hellas, Key-Cert, Acta, i-Skills, TELEFOS CERT, DIPLOMA – Human Resources Certification Body, after their certification date and until 31.12.2011.
C. Extension of validity until 30.06.2014 of the Computer Knowledge certificates issued until 31.12.2008 by the OEEK.
Certification bodies reported that if someone has an IT certificate with an issue date until 30.6.2011, this is no longer valid for the public sector. From July 1, IT certificates have a three-year validity for public sector bodies. That is, if someone has an IT certificate dated 15/6/2012, this will be valid until 15/6/2015.
We remind you that with Joint Ministerial Decision 4204, the validity period of IT or PC knowledge certificates is three years from the date of their issuance or renewal.
News.gr contacted the general director of the certification body Vellum regarding the issue that has arisen. Ms. Pantelidou emphasized that there are socio-economic dimensions as those who have IT certificates after 2006 will have to be re-examined, while those who have certificates before 2006 will have to re-take exams in all sections.
It is therefore understandable that candidates will need to spend time and money to re-certify their knowledge.
It is worth noting that IT certificates provide points in competitions for recruitment to the Public Service, are necessary for participation in postgraduate programs as well as for the evaluation of civil servants.
Mrs. Pantelidou emphasized that abroad IT certificates never expire, unlike in Greece where the three-year validity is defined, a fact that characterizes it as unacceptable especially in a period of crisis and unemployment. In a relevant announcement by Vellum, it is emphasized that the Joint Ministerial Decree is unethical towards the hundreds of thousands of employees and unemployed who are asked to pay a renewal fee for the certificate they obtained with effort and money. We believe that the new Joint Ministerial Decree violates the provision of article 28 of Law 3320/2005 (Government Gazette 48/Α΄/2005) which provides that "the relevant ministerial decisions should take into account international practice on the subject".
Literally millions of certificates of international bodies CAMBRIDGE, ECDL, MOS, MOUS, CERTIPORT never expire abroad.
Certification bodies have requested either the repeal of the Joint Ministerial Decision of May, its suspension or the definition of a transitional period, but so far no response has been given. Therefore, if there is no change, thousands of certificate holders will have to be re-examined, spending time and money.
Source: tro-ma-ktiko.blogspot.gr
