Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) in Gujarat to reopen from September 21

Batches to have staggered timings; exams to kick off in first week of November

The Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the state, which were shut since March because of the nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak, will reopen and resume training activities from September 21.

The decision has been taken in view of an advisory from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to reopen ITIs.

Additional Chief Secretary, Labour and Employment department, Vipul Mittra said to maintain social distancing and in view of capacity and physical space constraints, the ITIs will have staggered batch timings.

Mittra added, “The classes for courses of six months, one year and the second year of two year courses will commence on September 21, while classes for the first year of two year courses will start on October 1. We have issued instructions to ensure that guidelines issued by the state government, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are adhered to.”

The examinations for courses of six months, one year and the second year of two-year courses are planned to be conducted from the first week of November.

As per the advisory, candidates in the first year of the two-year course will be given provisional admission to the second year on completion of their training course for the first year. Their training is planned to begin in November, while exams for the first year are proposed to be held in December.

“Around 200-250 hours of training will be required to complete the curriculum. We will ensure that the training is completed on time. If needed, we will conduct classes even on holidays,” said Mittra.

He said to maintain social distancing, students admitted for session 2020-21/22 will be allowed to attend online classes for theory subjects till completion of exams of the previous batch, while practical training will be completed as per the syllabus.

Post lockdown, the ITIs had rolled out online study classes for the trainees so that their academic year is not affected.