National objectives and
quality standards
1 Each Party shall ensure that the education and
training objectives and related standards of competence to be achieved are clearly
defined and that the levels of knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to
the examinations and assessments required under the Convention are identified. The
objectives and related quality standards may be specified separately for different
courses and training programmes and shall cover the administration of the
certification system.
2 The field of application of the quality standards
shall cover the administration of the certification system, all training courses
and programmes, examinations and assessments carried out by or under the authority
of a Party and the qualifications and experience required of instructors and
assessors, having regard to the policies, systems, controls and internal quality
assurance reviews established to ensure achievement of the defined objectives.
3 Each Party shall ensure that an independent
evaluation of the knowledge, understanding, skills and competence acquisition and
assessment activities, and of the administration of the certification system, is
conducted at intervals of not more than five years in order to verify that:
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.1 all applicable provisions of the Convention
and STCW Code, including their amendments, are covered by the quality
standards system;
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.2 all internal management control and
monitoring measures and follow-up actions comply with planned arrangements
and documented procedures and are effective in ensuring achievement of the
defined objectives;
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.3 the results of each independent evaluation
are documented and brought to the attention of those responsible for the
area evaluated; and
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.4 timely action is taken to correct
deficiencies.