Thus, the ATSWA fulfils a dire need to produce a cadre of middle - level manpower within the           sub-region required to give effective support and  assistance to the professionally qualified Accountant so as to maximize the latter's efforts.

2. STRUCTURE OF THE SYLLABUS

The syllabus has a three-part structure with twelve subjects as follows:

Part I - Basic Accounting Processes and Systems;           Economics; Business Law; and Communication Skills.

Part II - Principles and Practice of Financial Accounting;   Government Accounting; Quantitative Analysis; and         Information Technology

Part III - Preparation and Audit of Financial          Statements;   Cost      Accounting     and    Budgeting;

Preparing Tax Computation and Returns; and   Management

3. PHILOSOPHY OF THE NEW SYLLABUS

In drawing  up this syllabus, the  ABWA  Council was mindful of reciprocity with other major           accounting bodies in the UK, America, Canada, etc. The overall  objective in this regard is that           ultimately, graduates of the scheme would be able to compare and compete favourably with their    counterparts  elsewhere and thus enjoy reciprocal  recognition.

The Syllabus has in some significant ways, strengthened the education and training              requirements necessary to produce Accounting Technicians:

i. who will play supporting role to the Chartered              Accountants

ii. whose primary duty will be to maintain the        accounting system already designed by Chartered Accountants

iii. who may sometimes work independently without supervision

iv. who can adequately meet the needs of:

· Public sector (including Local            Government)

· Industry, Commerce and Audit

iv. Who will be well equipped to advance to the    Professional Examination level

4. OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME 

The ATSWA Scheme has the following objectives:

i. to provide a recognized qualification for the          accounting and auditing staff employed in the public sector, industry, commerce and in various offices of  practicing accountants.

ii. To help meet the technicians staffing needs of the economy especially those of the various    governments and parastatals in  accounting   areas.

iii. to give status to Accounting Technicians

iv. to provide opportunity for the Accounting      Technicians to progress towards "Professional Qualification" as Chartered accountants.

5. POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES OF THE SCHEME

It is believed that the entire economy will benefit from the increased productivity of a well-trained and        disciplined  work­force. The individual Technician as well as the Organization he/she works for will also benefit

Specifically, the following are some of the beneficiaries:

i. Those holding supervisory Accounting positions in Government, Commerce and Industry,     Finance and Revenue Departments.

ii. Accounts Clerks or supervisors in Government- owned companies and parastatals.

iii. Office Managers and Audit Clerks in practising firms.

6. BENEFITS OF THE SCHEME

The benefits of the scheme to the Accounting       Technicians include the following:

(i) Ability to work and move in all types of        business organizations and services within the sub-region

(ii) Possession of a recognized accounting          qualification

(iii) Promotion opportunities for those who are  already in employment

   (iv)     Exemption from some of the Professional           Examination Papers of member bodies' Institutes and those of other professional bodies.

7.   ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

  No formal qualifications required.

8 PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

Students are expected to gain practical experience either in a professional practising firm of Chartered Accountants or in an accounting department of any recognized organization in industry, commerce and public sector.

9. MEMBERSHIP

On successful completion of the Accounting Technicians Scheme West Africa (ATSWA) examinations, graduates of the scheme shall be inducted into membership and  designated AATSWA.

10. PROGRESSION TO THE PROFESSIONAL CADRE

Candidates who have completed the examinations under the scheme may be allowed to register as  students for the    member­bodies' Professional   Examinations and, subject to practical  experience    requirements,    shall   be granted  exemption   in    Iine    with    member-bodies'  individual  examination    policies.

11. FEES

Fees in respect of  Registration, Exemption,  Examination and Annual Subscription shall be determined, from time to time, by ICASL Council.  The fees will  be denominated in Leones

12. REGISTRATION FOR STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

Candidates  who wish to write the ATSWA examinations   must     first  register   as   students  under the scheme. Application for registration must be made on   the  prescribed   form  and   received  by   the  ICASL     Secretariat   before the  closing  date  for  eligibility to

enter for the subsequent examinations.

13. THE EXAMINATION

1. Examination Date – The examination will be taken in March and September of each year. The registration for each examination closes  on 31st January  and 31st July respectively preceding each examination. The examination will be opened only to students registered under the scheme. It will be in three parts. Each part shall consist of four papers. Candidates will be allowed to take one part at a time and in a  sequential order (i.e Part I, Part II and Part III.)

2.  Credit and   Referral System - A  candidate will be credited with any subject passed provided the candidate passes all the subjects at that part of the examination within the next six consecutive diets i.e. three  consecutive years, otherwise, all such credits granted will be cancelled.

The credit system is applicable only to parts I and II while the referral system is applicable to only part III of the examination. Under the Credit    System,  candidates are expected to sit for a  minimum of two subjects of a part.

Under the Referral System, candidates are     expected to sit all papers within Part III. If a     candidate scores the pass marks in all the        subjects of the part except in one which he/she fails marginally, such a candidate is credited with the subjects passed and referred in the subject marginally failed. The candidate will be expected to pass the referred paper within the next two   diets; otherwise he/she will be required to retake all the papers of that part of the examinations.

3.  Marking of Scripts– to be done locally through pool marking using experts resident in Sierra Leone .