The government proposes to set up a separate board for Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) which will help them conduct exams and award certificates at par with those given to the students clearing class X and XII examinations from boards like the Central Board of Secondary Education.

The proposal, which has been accepted by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, is likely to benefit the over 2 million students graduating from over 13,000 ITIs every year. The move will also help students undertaking courses in ITIs to pursue regular courses in other schools and colleges. 

Union Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy informed the Lok Sabha during Question Hour that the proposed ITI Board will be on the lines of CBSE and ICSE. It will give a certificate which will be equivalent to class X and XII certificates issued by regular boards. Admitting that "there's been a decline in the standards of ITIs", Rudy said in the coming days, the ITIs opening in the country will be at par with the quality of central schools like Kendriya Vidyalayas and other good quality training institutions.

He pointed out that "2.3 million students used to pass out from ITIs but did not get the equivalent certificate of X or XII standard because no such provision was there earlier". "Now we have decided that on the lines of CBSE and ICSE...there will be a board for ITIs in the country which will give them a certificate equivalent to X and XII standard. The HRD Ministry has agreed to this," Rudy said.

According to senior officials in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, once the proposal is formalised, the National Council for Vocational Training will be authorised to conduct academic examinations and certification for class X and XII for the ITI students. Consequently, the UGC, CBSE, AICTE, NCERT, AIU (Association of Indian Universities) and state education boards will be informed that the NCVT has been authorised to conduct academic examinations for ITI pass-outs and award Xth and XIIth certificates which should be honoured by all educational institutions to provide further opportunities for higher studies.

Source: Timesofoman