NTA exploring mechanism to hold home-based tests

NTA is exploring options to develop a mechanism through which exams in the future can be held from home with no scope for unfair practices.

The novel coronavirus outbreak ruptured the education system and the academic calendar of the Country in just four months. Thousands of students and teachers are forced to continue the teaching-learning process from their homes. Learning lessons from the ongoing pandemic situation, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is exploring options to develop a mechanism through which exams in the future can be held from home with no scope for unfair practices, its chief Vineet Joshi said on June 30.

According to the reports, Mr Joshi revealed this planning during a web-discussion on the future of education. He further added that the NTA was set up in 2018 and in two years it conducted tests for over one crore candidates. He also talked about the efforts the agency is making to conduct home-based tests. NTA also conducts highly competitive NEET and JEE exams.

Joshi mentioned that the agency is exploring ways to create a mechanism that can allow home-based exams while eliminating the scope for the use of unfair means.

The media reports suggest that a senior NTA official also confirmed that the agency was trying to develop the capacity to hold such exams.

The official said, “In fact, recently a home-based exam was conducted for the Sports Authority of India (SAI) by the NTA. However, there is no planning to hold bigger exams like JEE or NEET through such mode. NTA is only developing capacity for the future.”

Keeping in the view of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the HRD ministry is yet to take a call on holding of JEE Mains and NEET 2020 exams which are scheduled in the second half of July.

“While the NTA has made preparations, the Home Ministry guidelines have suggested that educational institutions stay closed. The CBSE exams were also postponed. The task is challenging and the ministry will announce its decision soon,” said a government official.

During the webinar conducted on June 30, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) vice-chancellor Nageshwar Rao discussed the need to familiarize students with the online mode of tests at a younger age, especially at the school level.

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