INDUCTION INFORMATION (Updated -January 2018)

We welcome the new learners to Sagittarius and we take the opportunity to inform you of the following:-

  1. I.D Cards

All Sagittarius learners are issued with I.D cards as confirmation of the candidate being registered with the Examinations Board. The card is also used for identification purposes at the time of the examinations.

  1. Work Plans

TheLearners are provided with a work plan for each subject they are studying for, which is used to follow the progress of the course by the learners and the management alike. This work plan is drawn up by the lecturers, and should conform 100% to the syllabus.

  1. Course Materials

During the course, the lecturers provideon-line course materials, where applicable, free of charge. However,learners are required to do their own downloads and printing. It is regretted that the centre does not operate a retaining service for learners who miss lectures and therefore they will have to arrange for the missed notes on a personal basis with the lecturers or classmates.

  1. Mock Examinations

This is an integral part of all Sagittarius teaching programs. This allows feedback on learners’ progress to the lecturers and the management.

Learners not taking the Mock Examinations, will be considered absent and will not be entitled to free classes in case of failing their examinations, as mentioned in the ‘conditions of acceptance’.

In case of poor performance a learnermay be advised to defer their final examinations entry. However, the learnermakes the ultimate decision.

  1. Reading Materials
  1. Textbooks:Learners will be provided with titles of textbooks that they would require to purchase. However,a limitedsupplyofreference materials are available at the centre.
  1. Magazines: Once registered,learners will be receiving magazines from the examinations board, mostly soft copies. Besides, Sagittarius also makes available other related magazines to the learners for further reading.
  1. Additional reading: All learners, once they are registered with the examinations board, are strongly advised to regularly visit their websites to read examiners’ comments and other journals.
  1. Registration with the Awarding Body

For all professional courses offered at Sagittarius, candidates will be required to register as learner member with the Examinations Board. These have deadlines (see notice board and the VLE). The office will assist you with the registration process.

Eligibility – Members of our staff will be in a position to give you an indication in regards to the eligibility to study for a particular course, but candidates should note that the final decision is that of the Examinations Board.

Exemption – Learners can be eligible for exemption from single modules or entire levels of the programme of study. Once exemptions are allowed, the awarding body will require the learner to pay for those exemptions.

  1. Examinations and Examination fees

Most examinations are conducted under the supervision of the MES and most of them at the MES Examinations Centre at Reduit or alternative venues. The start time of the Examinations vary from one Examination to another, but the standard time of 9.00 am for morning papers and 1.00 pm for afternoon papers are used by the MES. You are required to re-confirm this before the examinations from our office.

Many examinations are assessment (assignment) based and learners will be advised on how to submit completed works well before the submission dates. There is a minimum ‘assessment administration’ fee, separate from the examination fees, which is chargeable by Sagittarius.

Examinations fees are normally paid in pound sterling if paid to the examinations Board and in Mauritian rupees if paid through Sagittarius. Moreover, for some examinations (egCIPS) candidates are required to pay ‘Local Examination fees’ to the MES or the British council

Sagittarius learners are encouraged to pay through our office to avoid any problems.

On payment for the examinations fees, you will be issued a receipt with the mention of the subjects that you are being entered. Please check them carefully if the entries are correct, as they could not be changed afterwards

  1. Examination entries

Although our administrative staff will assist you in registering you with the relevant examination board and enter you for examinations, you are required to verify the details and subjects entered. This could be done by checking the list of entries posted on the notice board after the deadline.

  1. Payment of Tuition fees
  1. Learners enjoy a prepayment discount if the whole course fee is paid. Alternatively learners may choose to pay on instalments.
  2. Learners paying on installments should pay their monthly fees on or before the end of each scheduled month.
  3. Course fees are not refundable, once the course has started.
  1. Opening Hours

We are open seven days a week unless otherwise notified on special occasions. The timings are as follows;

Monday to Friday=> 9.00 am to 7.15 pm

Saturday=> 9.00 am to 5.15 pm

Sunday=> 8.15 am to 12.30 pm

However, for administrative matters the time of 9.00 am to 5.00 pm during weekdays is convenient.

Please take note during cyclonic weather, lectures may be cancelled, but are replaced on other convenient dates.

PsCyclone Warning Class 1 and 2 –Lectures as normal

Cyclone Warning Class 3 –NO LECTURES

  1. Public Holidays

Classes are held on public holidays, but the timings change and therefore you are kindly requested to check our notice board before any forthcoming public holiday. However, the lectures are conducted in the mornings as from 8.30 am.

  1. Cancellation of Lectures

Although this is not encouraged at Sagittarius, there may be cancellation of lectures due to unavailability of lecturers or any otherunavoidable reasons. In this respect, learners will be notified as soon as possible and the replacement date is posted on the VLE

  1. Complaints / Requests

Learners are encouraged not to hold any complaint or suggestion that they may have. Should you wish to express your thoughts or views, you may speak to any member of the staff or use the ‘slip’ provided in the dispenser at the reception area.

It is part of our fundamental policy to consider any feedback received from our learners.

VLE

[Virtual Learning Environment]

The VLE allows our learners to study on-line from anywhere and at any time of the day or night. This innovative system has been put in place to provide our learners with that added value which will help them to receive lecture material on-line, submit their assignments on-line through the digital drop box and to participate in the forum for pertinent discussions on a weekly basis.

Full demonstration will be given on the use of the system at the start of the courses. However, a manual is included in this pack.

To use the VLE, you should have the Internet connection of a suitable speed.

Each learner will be given his/her own ‘username’ and ‘password’, to gain access to personal study areas. Learners should keep these codes private as they will ultimately reveal the register of attendance, classroom performance and grades obtained from assignments submitted.

We wish you well in your studies

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Trying harder to make you succeed