Only CTET qualifiers to get mark sheet hard copies

Only those aspiring teachers who qualify the central teacher eligibility test (CTET) will get the hard copies of their mark sheets and qualification certificates from the central government from this year.

Others, who fail to clear the test, will have to visit the DigiLocker, an online repository of academic certificates and other documents created by the central government, to view their scores and download a copy of their “digitally signed” mark sheets, a CBSE official told DH.

The mark sheets and the eligibility certificates of those qualifying the test will also be made available at the DigiLocker to enable them to get digitally signed copies of the documents, the official added.

The CBSE has decided to issue hard copies of the CTET mark sheets and eligibility certificates to only those qualifying the test from this year to cut down the use of papers and the cost incurred on them too.

“Starting 2018, the CBSE will provide CTET mark sheets to all candidates and eligibility certificates to successful candidates in digital format in their DigiLocker account,” the board’s secretary Anurag Tripathi said in a statement on Sunday.

The mark sheets and eligibility certificates will be digitally signed. They will be legally valid as per the IT (Information and Technology) Act, he added.

This comes on a day when lakhs of men and women took the test at about 2,000 examination centres in 92 cities across the country. Over 16 lakh candidates had registered for the test, conducted by the CBSE on behalf of the central government.

The CTET qualification is mandatory for those seeking to apply for teaching jobs at the central government-run schools as well as those under the administrative control of the Union Territory of Chandigarh; Dadra and Nagar Haveli: Daman and Diu: Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Lakshadweep and the NCR (national capital region) of Delhi.

The qualification certificates, which are issued to those clearing the test with 60% and above marks, are valid for a period of seven years from the date of declaration of results for all categories.

“The DigiLocker accounts of all present candidates will be created and the account credentials will be conveyed to the candidates on their mobile phone numbers registered with the CBSE. The candidates will be able to download their digital mark sheets and eligibility certificates using the credentials to be communicated to them,” Tripathi said.

Listing “benefits” of the CBSE decision, he said it will not only reduce the “administrative overhead” of the departments and agencies “due to reduced or zero paper work,” but also make it easy for any organisation to validate the authenticity of the digitally signed mark sheet and qualification certificate of the candidates “electronically.”

“The mark sheets and eligibility certificates will contain an encrypted QR Code for security. The QR Code can be scanned and verified using the DigiLocker mobile app.It will also be convenient for candidates as their mark sheets will now be available anytime, anywhere and can be shared electronically,” he said.