Biometric attendance for teachers

Survey states poor learning outcome is a cause of concern

In an effort to check teacher absenteeism and improve quality of primary education, the Economic Survey on Tuesday suggested biometric attendance system that would be monitored by local communities and parents.

The survey said an important concern that is often raised in the context of school education is poor learning outcome. Although there have been improvements in access and retention, the learning outcome for a majority of children is still a cause of serious concern, said the pre-Budget document tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

“Some of the underlying causes contributing to low quality of education in the primary sector are teacher absenteeism and the shortage of professionally qualified teachers,” the Survey said.

“An option to address teacher absenteeism that can be explored is biometric attendance of all teachers in primary schools for each scheduled class/lecture/session/distinct from the present system, where it is morning and evening to ostensibly record arrival and departures with little control on the activities during the working hours,” it said.

“A pilot project in one district of every State may be commenced for six months to be expanded to all districts in three years,” it added.

The Survey says that despite increase in spending on Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan budget over the years from 35 per cent in 2011-12 to 59 per cent in 2014-15, “teacher absenteeism and the shortage of qualified teachers remain an issue to be addressed”.