Tamil Nadu: Will invite bids to develop software for online typewriting exam

Chennai: Amid widespread opposition by managements of typewriting institutes across the state, the Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE) is going ahead with the bidding process to hire an IT firm to develop software for online exams combining typewriting and shorthand with Computer on Office Automation (COA). The Higher Education Department had already issued an order amending the rules and regulations for the certificate course in COA, combining the typewriting examination and the certificate course in COA as a single certificate course as a prerequisite qualification for seeking appointment in the Tamil Nadu state and subordinate services. “Accordingly, DoTE may invite bidders to participate in the tender for development and implementation of software for conducting online exams for COA, typewriting and shorthand,” said a senior official of the Higher Education Department. Explaining the advantages of the proposed implementation of the software for the COA exam, the official said there would be a one-time permanent registration for user ID creation, unlike the current manual enrolment. “Similarly, the proposed software will have exam registration, fee payment, application download, learning management system (video lecturer and e-book) and mock tests available for the candidates,” he said. The official said a mobile app will also be developed to host shorthand dictation on scheduled sessions along with the online exam software. “With regard to exam procedures and monitoring, the system will conduct biometric verification 30 minutes before the exam,” he said. He said candidates will have to come on time for the physical exam, however, this new online exam software will allow those candidates who start late to attend the remaining sessions. He said the results will be published on time. L Senthil, president of Tamil Nadu Typewriting Computer Institutes Association (TNTCIA), reiterated that the online typewriting and shorthand exam will affect over 4,500 institutes across the state. He claimed there are no proper guidelines on how candidates will learn typewriting or shorthand through computers.