22,000 ITI students in Maharashtra to take semester exams online

Once successful, the online testing will be expanded to other ITIs and trades as well

Around 22,000 students of about 100 government-run Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Maharashtra will take their semester examinations online, in place of traditional pen-and-paper tests.

(The Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) is making the switch to digital in a phased manner.(Representational AFP photo)

In the second phase of introducing online exams, the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) will conduct the first semester examinations of 36 vocational trades at around 100 government-run ITIs, located at district headquarters. All the other exams will be held manually. Once successful, the online testing will be expanded to other ITIs and trades as well.

The move comes at a time when the University of Mumbai (MU) is struggling to implement on-screen assessment of exam papers. While the varsity was criticised for implementing the on-screen assessment project at one go, the DVET has decided to make its switch to digital in a phased manner by first doing it on a pilot level. Earlier, 5,000 out of 2 lakh ITI students were given online tests.

Anil Jadhao, director, DVET said digital exams also minimise the hassle of disbursing question papers to students on exam days. “Often the Directorate General of Training (DGT), the apex national body of vocational training, sends wrong question papers. Sometimes, the bundles don’t have sufficient question papers. The institutes have to undergo the painful exercise of getting them photocopied. It often results in delay in examination,” he said.

Jadhao also said holding exams online will plug question paper leaks and ensure timely delivery of results. “In manual examination, the answer sheets are collected at district centres and then dispatched to the head office. Then, an agency appointed by the DGT visits us and scans all the answer sheets. It then collates all the results and publishes them. The entire exercise takes around two to three months.”