Face recognition system likely in govt schools to improve attendance

“Prioritising automation of student attendance using face recognition technology is crucial for improving accuracy and efficiency,”  a senior official said.  The proposed measures include providing parents with monthly attendance updates and introducing regular tests (monthly and weekly) to keep students engaged.

However, the tech-centric approach has drawn criticism from some educators. Ajay Kumar Choubey, Principal, Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, Rouse Avenue, argues that the solution to attendance issues “cannot be administrative but should be pedagogical,” especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. “These students come from backgrounds where many of their families or parents do not understand the importance of education. I do not think this problem can be solved by installing face recognition or by updating the parents on a monthly basis,” he said.

“There needs to be proper parental education too. We should think about creating a space in the school that would cater to the students and make them come to school happily,” Choubey added.

Meanwhile, the coming months will likely see pilot programmes and further discussions as Delhi’s Education Department refines its approach.

Referring to the face recognition technology,  an official further underlined that “before rolling out the system to all schools, it needs to be tested in a few schools to evaluate its effectiveness and address any issues.”

The meeting also addressed the issue of provisional admissions, directing schools to immediately enroll students who lack complete documentation.

The move aims to ensure that administrative hurdles do not deny children access to education.

Officials also stressed the need for accurate reporting in PM POSHAN scheme, the government meal programme in schools.

It was stressed that the timely submission of this data and the submission of factually correct data is crucial for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the programme.