Students protest against suddenly induced online examination pattern at ITI, forced directorate to postpone exams

Nagpur : The online examination of diesel mechanics trade of the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) had to be called off and postponed on Monday following protests by the students.

The students claimed that the state’s Directorate of Vocational Education Training (DVET) issued a notification on Saturday announcing to conduct the current year’s district-level All India Trade Test in online format on Monday and Tuesday. This sudden change in the exam pattern baffled the students as they did not get enough time to prepare for the online exam.

Moreover, the DVET notification dated February 3 also prescribed that examination of all 35 trades will only be conducted online, which the students were not prepared for. Part-I and II of the trade were supposed to be conducted on Monday and Tuesday while the second part is scheduled from February 17.

However, with the intervention of city’s Bajrang Dal’s student wing, the tests were halted. The students had gathered at DVET’s regional office in Civil Lines and met with regional assistant director.

Students’ wing head Vishal Punj said, “The way the DVET is functioning is unacceptable and it is meddling with the students’ careers. On Tuesday, the student’s wing will meet with chief minister’s secretary at Hyderabad House to take up the issue.”

Punj also highlighted that conducting online examinations is not fair to students hailing from rural areas because a majority of them cannot even operate a phone. He said, “The DVET should have at least waited till the next session to introduce online exams so that all ITI students become aware of it and get time to familiarize themselves with technology.”

Punj informed that the DVET official admitted to the issue and told him that orders regarding the schedule of exams are taken by the top brass of the directorate and they simply spread the info.

Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.