NED Frank Luiten: Technical test as a basis...
LECTURE
FRANK LUITEN : TECHNICAL TEST AS A BASIS FOR RECOGNITION
PRESENTATION to IVSI Congress
MATRA, Hungary 26 January 2009
Practically all of you know me, for those who don't: apart from 10 years as secr.gen. of Interski (1995-2005), I attended ISIA congresses since 1976 in Banff, as well a a considerable number of IVSI and IVSS congresses, and all INTERSKI congresses (except one) since 1979 in Zao.
My organization is not only a member of ISIA and Interski, but also of IVSI and IVSS. Why?
First, because we consider international contacts, cooperation and exchange of ideas and information on developments, of paramount importance in snow sports.
Second, because in the Netherlands we don't have the distinction between areas like ISIA, IVSI and IVSS. We just have ‘ski instructors'.
Presentation theme: TECHNICAL TEST AS A BASIS FOR RECOGNITION
Why this presentation?
Because we believe that also the umbrella organizations should know more about each others' specific problems and areas of concern.
Like in the big world, also our skiing world is getting smaller, and all of us are affected by the developments taking place. That's why I think it is useful, and at least interesting, for you to hear something about the developments around the famous Euro Test. Representing the Netherlands, I have been involved in all EU negotiations Lyon Brussels leading up to the Brussels Agreement of March 200, of which I was one of the signatories, which - in hindsight - I regret today.
Basics of the Euro Test Agreement
See the papers we presented for the regional ISIA meetings in Amsterdam and Prague.
Short history of the compelling grounds of public safety / security.
Euro Test: tests speed. It has nothing to do with safety.
As any safety expert will tell you: safety of customers is dealt with between the ears.
Statistics presented by France to Brussels to argue in favour of the Euro Test were never properly analyzed, and therefore meaningless.
The skiing accident statistics as presented to Brussels before 2000 are not relevant, because the figures are NOT analysed, and without proper analysis they are virtually worthless. We have read all the papers and studied the argumentation. They don't specify whether the victims are individuals or in groups; if in groups it is not specified if they were accompanied by qualified or unqualified, experienced or inexperienced guides or instructors.
In Dutch instructor training we do not have the same racing culture in skiing as has e.g. France. The same goes for other sports like skating. Yet we have the best skating coaches of the world.
I challenge anybody to prove that our ski instructors are less safe or cause more injuries then instructors of other nations.
Flaws in the Euro Test system
As Björn Zeitz has explained, the system produces erratic results, and allows for manipulation. (The co-efficient gives erratic, coincidental results. By standing up the last 100 meters the results can and have been influenced = possibility of manipulation.
It seems that during several or most Euro Tests the different time limits for establishment and for provision of services have not been taken into account.
Percentages of candidates passing the Euro Test are dismal, and confirm the protectionist character of the measure.
E.g. EURO-Test/Garmisch 21.12.2007
Ergebnis: Gestartet 69 Kandidaten, davon bestanden 11,
(Herren: gestartet 55, bestanden 8; Damen: gestartet 14, betanden 4)
Euro Test figures: only German figures could be obtained, but is seems that the overall passing rate is around 9 out of 90.
Protectionism
Such percentages, this system not only keeps foreigners out, but it also turns the vast majority of the younger generation away, thereby keeping the old establishment guard cushioned and comfortable. Thus the Euro Test not only obstructs the market at the international level, but also at the national level.
A test system which allows only 10 % to pass lacks credibility. There is no system of training or education where such figures would be allowed to exist. (In such a case either the training system is failing, or the limits are unrealistically severe.)
We need good driving instructors, not Formula 1drivers.
The system appears to bite Germany in the tail. (Germany applied for the same derogation as FIÖ, but only 1 year later.) Now it faces the situation where they don't have enough young people. They used to have around 80 people per year for the highest level tests; now, thanks to the Euro Test they only have 10 to 15.
Furthermore: it allows for the exploitation of lower qualified foreign instructors. Working as trainees they are underpaid. In France they can work up to a maximum of 4 years only, then they are kicked out. (This unfair commercial advantage is restricted to a limited number of well established ESF ski schools only.)
As demonstrated before, the Euro Test comes down to obstruction of the market both at the international and national level !!!
France is no doubt ‘une grande nation', also in skiing. And I am a Francophile myself.
But even great nations sometimes make great mistakes.
Yet the Euro Test system is under fire. Several court cases against the Euro Test system have been started and won, notably the case of Mattias Prinz dealing with snowboard, and the Kiedaisch case, dealing with the admission of lower qualified instructors.
Against the Euro Test
I have here support in writing - black on white - against the Euro Test from Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Rumania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Verbal support promised to me by the Czech Republic and Poland.
Denmark agrees that changes are necessary but aims for compromise. So I think do many other countries.
Let me also draw your attention to the fact that FIÖ is fighting a rearguard battle: they are losing legal battles like Mattias Prinz, the Kiedaisch case,
If FIÖ were not afraid of ISIA creating a European platform (by the way, rules for creating such platforms have been eased on 07.09.2005 (Article 15) with the aim of facilitating mutual recognition on the basis of such professional platforms), Austria would not have had to formulate a motion to keep ISIA from doing just that.
ISIA Minimum Standards
At this place, first a tribute to IVSI: IVSI established its set of Minimum Standards light years before ISIA did !!
We are long time supporters of ISIA. We are also democrats. We are in favour of an ISIA System of Minimum Standards as a basis for mutual recognition.
We are willing to support the ISIA system of Minimum Standards in principle, provided we find that our comments, which we sent to ISIA earlier this year, are listened to and taken into consideration.
If the majority finds there must be a timed test, then so be it. But at least there must be reasonable limits, and no manipulation.
For a timed test to have the necessary credibility the limits should be set in such a way, that about two thirds of the candidates are able to pass the test, and do so indeed.
Warning against inflation of hours per course
We should not forget that we are talking about MINIMUM Standards. Specifying hours ignores essential intake levels like experience and talent. It also falsely assumes that all training courses are equally efficient. Which hours are counted? Only contact hours? Practice hours? Home work or self improvement hours?
We strongly advocate to use capacities an competencies as a basis for qualification, in stead of a number of hours. Look at the European Qualification Framework (EQF) for guidance.
And IF we have to establish hour specifications, then let them be reasonable. After all, we are talking minimum standards. If there are countries that want to go higher, they are free to do so.
Shortage of instructors
In Amsterdam and Prague Riet Campell asked if countries had enough ski instructors. It turned out that in most countries there are shortages of instructors.
We need a system of mutual recognition of different levels.
We need good driving instructors, not Formula 1drivers.
What do we need ?
What we need is mobility in the market.
What we need is less barriers, (and barriers that are less high) so that young people are able to enter the profession.
What we need is a system of mutual recognition of different levels of ski instructor diplomas.
What we need is a European platform run on a democratic basis.
And then there is the FEMPS a desperate and anti-democratic power grab.
The FEMPS statutes read like a desperate effort to hold on to a protectionist system which has been wrestled from the European committee, using customer safety as a hostage and unanalyzed statistics as a trick.
If you look a the statutes all the power is with the FIÖ countries (presidency, board, etc.) the Euro Test is declared its holy grail, and at the same time - under the banner of polyvalence - they claim all other disciplines as well.
We did not start this controversy. FIÖ did. The result: colleagues have become enemies
The comradely spirit between professional colleagues from the past has become xenophobia for economic reasons.
Point 1 and 2 of the Austrian motion are no better: the Austrian proposal is at best an effort to sideline or paralyse ISIA.
We are against the FEMPS dictatorship and the Euro Test monopoly.
We refuse to dance any longer to the tune of FIÖ.
The role of ISIA
We are long time supporters of ISIA. We are democrats, we expect openness and transparency. We don't like blackmail, playing games or fiddling with the rules
Examples:
- 2 times blackmail
- 1987 France refused to pay contributions fees for 2 years to force an adaptation of the By Laws.
- 2006 France and Austria forced the board to drop its initiative to create a European platform
- FEMPS and the motion formulated by Austria is another attempt to sideline ISIA.
This is not democratic dialogue on the basis of arguments, this a brutal power play.
- Now in 2008 I hope the board and the GA will not let this happen a third time and give in to the strong arm tactics from FIÖ / FEMPS and the motion by Austria.
- Fiddling with the rules laid down in the By Laws.
Shortly before this meeting Austria suddenly ordered 1000 extra ISIA stamps; suddenly buying extra votes?
What should ISIA do?
ISIA should finally take the necessary steps to create such a platform, in which all the ISIA member organizations from nations that are in the EU, should partake.
The task of this platform should be
1. to get the ISIA system of Minimum Standards accepted as a basis for mutual recognition of snow sport instructors' diplomas, and
2. to get the derogations mentioned earlier abolished.
If necessary
If ISIA this time does not form a European platform and presents it to Brussels, we will try to get the derogations granted to AUT, FRA, GER and ITA, revoked ourselves.
We intend to take our case not only to Mc Greevy (internal market, professional
qualifications) but also to Nelie Smit Kroes (competition; there we will indict FIÖ for obstruction of the market, internationally as well as nationally.)
We also will address the national and European solvit bureaus, and if necessary we will take the case to the European court.
We already know a good lawyer Mailander who also argued - and won - the Kiedaisch case.
To prove to you that we are serious I hereby announce that Netherlands, Spain, Sweden herewith officially withdraw from the Brussels agreement of March 2000.
Last but not least
There is something rotten in the state of Denmark.
- Conflict of interest: by founding FEMP and accepting its presidency mr. Richard Walter has become unfit to serve on the board of ISIA. (You only have to look at the blackmail letter of 2 years ago (one only threatens to walk away when one lacks good arguments), as well as at the motion Austria has formulated before this meeting.
- Manipulation of the Euro Test is not only possible, but has in fact occurred, as was explained by Björn Zeitz.
I order to regain the trust of its members, I suggest that from now on, the board sends the complete minutes of its meetings to all ISIA members.
I repeat: we are long time supporters of ISIA. We are democrats, we expect openness and transparency. We don't like blackmail, playing games or fiddling with the rules
I feel obliged to let you hear these critical notes as much out of concern with ISIA as out of loyalty towards this important umbrella organization.
