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Linux System Administration Training of Trainers
A major barrier against adoption and deployment of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in developing of countries in the Asia Pacific is the lack of human resources with FOSS skills. This pilot programme aims to address the problem by training trainers in countries, so that these trainers in turn will be able to train other trainers and therefore kick start self sustaining development of FOSS human resources
Objective
To hold a training of trainers session in Fiji for participants from South Pacific island nations over 10 days (October 31st - November 11th) , after which they will sit for examination to be certified as LPIC Level 1 Linux professionals. In conjunction with this training, on the day of examination local proctors will be trained and certified. These independent proctors will then be able to administer low cost paper based LPI examinations for local organizations in their respective countries.
Trainees for system administration will be able to maintain workstations and basic LAN and Internet server services. Detailed objectives for LPIC Level 1 certification are available from the links provided below:
LPI 101: http://www.lpi.org/en/obj_101.html
LPI 102:
http://www.lpi.org/en/obj_102.html
Justification
Capacity building
Countries that want to want to adopt FOSS need to build capacity for ICT and FOSS by developing and increasing the pool of human resources skilled in FOSS. Training of trainers program starts off this process by providing a self sustaining program through the use of FOSS, open content training materials and low-cost paper based certification examinations by an independent proctor. Using an internationally recognized skills standard will also aid the local ICT industry as it opens the doors to foreign investment and the international market.
Open market and lower costs of training
Most ICT skills training and
certification programmes are vendor driven with the certification
process designed as a revenue earner for the vendor. The process of
training, materials and examination is usually done at training
centers. In addition to indirect costs of vendor lock-in, this
combination also results in prohibitively high costs of training and
certification for developing countries with training programmes fees
costing as much as USD1,000 or more per trainee.
Using GNU/Linux open standards and a standard community driven skills certification opens up the market for multiple providers of FOSS GNU/Linux solutions. Independent proctors also opens up the market for providers of training and training materials. Proctors can provide low cost paper examinations to commercial and non-commercial organizations as well as the local FOSS community, independent of how individuals seeking to get certified acquired their training. These examinations coupled with open content training materials can lower the costs of training and certification per person to as low as USD100 or less.
Scope
The scope of this training programme is
regional. It will be held for South-Pacific Island nations, with
trainees and proctors from Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Samoa, Solomon
Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. The training materials
and training program are already open content licensed, and any new
material created for the training will also be licensed under open
content for other countries to adopt and use as needed.
Methodology
Trainer will train at a training lab, participants to sit and pass LPI Level 1 exam after a 10 day training course based on GNU/Linux LPI training materials. In conjunction with the examination of trainees an LPI proctor trainer, will do a practical training for local proctors in conducting an LPI examination.
Linux Training Participants
Participants who will attend are to be determined by local partners based on the following criteria.
Must have some experience administrating a Linux PC and familiar with material covered in the course ware.
Participants are required to have a good command of English, including technical terms used in the course ware.
Participants or the entity they are representing will need to bear the costs of examination. The cost of the examination will be USD$50 to sit two papers required for LPIC Level 1 certification.
Participants should currently be trainers or will be in a position to be a trainer after completion of training and certification.
Nominated participants must register for an LPI ID before sitting the examination. They can register for free online at https://www.lpi.org/en/register.html. They must also have a photo ID before sitting the examination for identification purposes.
IOSN will bear the costs of the travel costs and daily allowance of selected outstation participants.
Nominated participants should also compromise a mix of private sector, public sector, and civil society.
Proctor Trainees
The role of the proctor is to conduct paper examinations for LPI certification. Proctors provide the ability for low cost or free testing in places where current LPI exam costs may be prohibitively expensive due to the local economy.
Proctors will be identified by IOSN from South Pacific Island Nation countries with the support of local partners.
The requirements for Proctors are that they have experience in giving out examinations. An academic background and good standing within the community is preferable. No knowledge of Linux or examination material is required. Proctors will not be eligible to sit for LPI certification exams. Detailed guidelines for potential proctors are written in the Official Proctor Guide by LPI.
IOSN will bear the travel costs and daily allowance of nominated proctor trainers.
Proctor Trainer
LPI will be providing a proctor trainer to train the proctors on
the day of examination as well as conduct the examination. IOSN will
bear the travel costs and daily expenses of the proctor to be
identified by LPI.
Course Material
The course materials required for this training course are available freely online at http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/lpi-manuals/ and released under the GNU Free Documentation License.
LPI101
http://savannah.nongnu.org/download/lpi-manuals/SerNet-LATM-LPI-101-v-0.2.sxw
LPI102
http://savannah.nongnu.org/download/lpi-manuals/GNU-FDL-OO-LPI-102-0.0.sxw
The training center will provide copies of the relevant materials to participants, but participants are encouraged to go through them on their own before the training program.
Outputs/Desired Outcomes
LPI Level 1 Certified trainers who will then be able to conduct similar training workshops.
Certified LPI proctors who can administer affordable LPI certification examinations in their native countries.
Training materials including course outline, presentations and notes to be available under an open content license.
Report detailing training of trainers program experiences and results.
Partners
Local country partners (South-Pacific)
University of the South Pacific, Fiji
The University of the South Pacific (USP) is the premier provider of tertiary education in the Pacific region and an international centre of excellence for teaching, research consulting and training on all aspects of Pacific culture, environment and human resource development needs. The Department of Mathematics and Computing Science supports the use of FOSS in computing courses.
SOPAC
SOPAC is the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission. It is an inter-governmental, regional organisation dedicated to providing services to promote sustainable development in the countries it serves. SOPAC’s work is carried out through its Secretariat, based in Suva, Fiji.
Linux Professional Institute
LPI was formally incorporated as a Canadian non-profit in October 25, 1999, and is headquartered near Toronto. They attempt to bring together an active and committed community with the companies and professionals who can fund and carry out LPI's initiatives. LPI is recognized worldwide as the premier organization advocating and assisting in the professional use of Linux, open source, and free software. LPI Linux certifications are vendor neutral.
