Can virtual Canadian citizenship testing work?

Canada’s tough response to the coronavirus pandemic has been disruptive but necessary.

Citizenship tests are now suspended since they are not deemed safe. However, there are many would-be Canadians who would love to get their passport as soon as possible. Once they become official citizens, they will begin to enjoy the benefits and get the right to vote. Data from the immigration department states that around 85,000 people are currently waiting to sit for the citizenship test. It is essential for permanent residents to take this test if they want to attain Canadian citizenship.

Legally claiming the same privileges as Canadian-born citizens gives them the incentive to integrate into society. Even from a purely symbolic point of view, gaining citizenship status makes people feel like they are a part of the Canadian family for good.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has informed candidates that they are thinking about offering online citizenship tests and interviews. The only problem is that they will have to come up with a foolproof way of verifying the identities of people who are taking the test so that the integrity of the program is not sacrificed. Recently, they also announced that certain applicants will be invited for in-person retests.

Solutions

With the emergence of the pandemic, it is now more important than ever that we embrace merging technologies that enable online testing. Canadian post-secondary institutions are brainstorming ideas about how to organize large scale examinations and eliminate the chances of cheating successfully.

They can use tailor-made testing software that enforces different measures that prevent students from cheating by imposing time limits and making it impossible to shift to another tab without submitting the test. Moreover, artificial intelligence has opened the door for further innovations in this field.