ITI students to receive English lessons for Class 12 equivalent credential

The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) and the Labor, Skill Development and Employment Department have teamed together to conduct and simplify the English test as well as English language sessions for students at the state's Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

"It was students' demand to simplify the exam. So unlike all these years where students were required to register themselves to a school in order to take the Class 12 English exam for the Class 12 equivalent certificate, now the ITIs will directly register students with the board to conduct the exam. Since we have their details of Class 10 exams and results, doing that will not be an issue," said GSHSEB chairman AJ Shah.

Despite approximately 1.5 lakh students enrolling in the state's 525 ITIs each year, only about 7,000 pupils have received their Class 12 equivalent certificate after passing the English exam in the last ten years.

Since 2012, the GSHSEB has been administering a Class 12 English exam for ITI students seeking a Class 12 equivalency credential. After passing Class 10, ITI students are enrolled in a variety of short- and long-term (three-month to two-year) courses and given a diploma. For Class 12 equivalence, the state government issued an order in 2011 stating that pupils who pass the Class 12 English exam will receive a Class 12 certificate.

"With the process being simplified and cutting out schools from the process, we are expecting more students to take this exam so that they are eligible for undergraduate diploma courses where Class 12 is a mandate. This will help in their mainstreaming them," said principal secretary, Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department.

To date, any ITI student who has completed two years can register for the exam, which is held every year in March. In addition, ITI students in their fourth semester are eligible to take the additional Class 12 exams in July. Students must first register at their respective schools in order to do so.

However, the registration process has been centralised, and ITIs will now submit a list of pupils intending to take the English exam to the state education board, along with a fee. This exercise will be completed from May 1 to 15, in preparation for the examination, which will be held in July at locations determined by the board.

Due to the lower percentage of students passing the exam, ITI students who have not been taught English as a topic during their study will be given supplementary English sessions.

"Nearly 5,000 students registered for Class 12 English exam in September 2021 but only a few could clear. So, we have decided to offer regular English classes as a regular education board from this year for over 40,000 students who are enrolled in the two-year course," Sharma said.

Students were unaware of the Class 12 equivalency requirement, according to officials, and would frequently pursue it after completing ITI. However, once students realise it is required for higher education, many will choose it.