Coronavirus: exam boards defend decision not to scrap fees

Exam boards have defended a move not to scrap fees despite taking the decision to cancel tests because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials argued various administrative costs continued to justify their charges, which in some cases can amount to thousands of dirhams.

Boards said they understood exams fees remained a “pressing issue” for many parents given the unique current circumstances of mass school closures.

Some said they would consider refunding costs at a later date while others announced they would freeze fees rather than raising prices.

“We understand fees are a pressing issue for many schools and families following the cancellation of exams this summer,” said a spokesman for Pearson Edexcel, a board that sets international GCSE exams in 80 counties, including the UAE.

“As well as paying for the writing and marking of exams and the moderation or verification of non-examined assessment, exam fees pay for the provision of comprehensive support and training.

“We’re working hard to understand the full impact of the cancellation of the 2020 exam series.

“Once we fully understand how this impacts on all aspects of our fees and associated costs, we are committed to returning any costs not incurred back to customers.”

Distance learning has become the new normal for millions of pupils around the world since the outbreak of Covid-19.

Governments had no choice but to take the draconian measure to close schools as part of efforts to reduce infection rates.

In the Emirates, education authorities announced schools would shut in March and instead launched a range of online learning platforms.

Some schools reacted by agreeing to offer discounts on fees, providing much-needed financial assistance to families, some of whom lost jobs as a result of the pandemic.

Repton in Dubai and British School Al Khubairat (Bsak) in Abu Dhabi – two of the country's highest-ranked schools – both cut fees by 15 per cent, for example.

Yet despite these school fee reductions, exam boards themselves have proved less willing to alter their cost structures.

One parent said he had been forced to pay more than Dh2,500 for his child to sit three exams, none of which had taken place.

In a statement to The National, Cambridge Assessment International Education said it was doing everything it could to support schools and pupils.

The UK-based exam board operates across 160 countries in nine regions, providing education programmes and qualifications for 5 to 19-year-olds.

“We will be helping schools further by freezing our standard fees for the November 2020 exam series at the same level as the standard June 2020 exam series fees,” a spokeswoman said.

“Our first priority has always been for the safety of students and those working in schools.

“We have worked hard to put in place the systems and processes to allow us to standardise and award grades in the June series, enabling students to move forward with their future study and career plans.”

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Weekend of August 10-13

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10 tips for entry-level job seekers

Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

How Filipinos in the UAE invest

A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.

Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).

Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.

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Favourite holiday destination: Whenever I have any free time I always go back to see my family in Caltra, Galway, it’s the only place I can properly relax.

Favourite film: The Way, starring Martin Sheen. It’s about the Camino de Santiago walk from France to Spain.

Personal motto: If something’s meant for you it won’t pass you by.