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Wanted: Linux candidates

By Damian Clarkson, ITWeb junior journalist
Johannesburg, 20 Apr 2005

Open source affiliates have teamed up to organise a second Linux Professionals Institute (LPI) mass examination aimed at growing the local Linux skills base.

Linux Holdings, local LPI affiliates and the Shuttleworth Foundation will stage the second 'mass examination fest` at SA`s first LinuxWorld conference, which will be held on 17 and 18 May at the Sandton Convention Centre.

The first mass LPI examination saw the qualification of 37 level one and three level two LPI graduates two months ago, says Linux Holding head trainer Alan McKinnon.

"Both the level one and level two certifications consist of two examinations. Level one certification extends to solid grounding in basic administration while level two certification extends into the realm of more complex, network-centric Linux administration."

The examination will be similar to the previous event, but with an increased focus on raising the certification level of the recently qualified level one graduates, adds McKinnon.

"We believe level two skills are extremely valuable to the market and the experience level both corporates and resellers are in short supply of today. By hosting another 180 exams and reducing the usual price for these exams substantially, we believe we can create the skills the market needs in order to consider Linux as a viable option."

Shuttleworth Foundation project co-ordinator Jason Hudson says students will pay R300 for their level one and two examinations, which would normally cost around R1 000.

"Since we`re literally cutting costs to the bone for this event, there`s a strong motivation for more of the capable Linux professionals in the market to become officially certified."

All LPI certified individuals are encouraged to attend this event, since it will go a long way towards updating the course curriculum and examinations, says Hudson.

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