Patna: The education department of Bihar has introduced a new digital attendance system in government schools. Under this new initiative, teachers and students will not mark attendance manually on paper. Instead, attendance will now be recorded online using tablets supplied by the government. According to officials, this step is aimed at improving transparency and discipline in classrooms across the state.
According to the latest information, tablets have already been distributed in 90 schools across several blocks by Saturday. The remaining 144 schools are expected to receive their tablets on 24 and 25 November. Teachers from the schools that received the devices expressed enthusiasm, saying the digital system could reduce paperwork and save time during morning attendance.
Block Education Officer (BEO) Saurabh Suman said that tablets are being provided to all primary, middle, secondary and higher secondary schools. He added that the tablets are pre-loaded with important applications of the Education Department, including the e-Shikshakosh system, and cannot be tampered with. To ensure smooth functioning, the headmaster of each school and one technology-skilled teacher will receive special training on how to take attendance, generate reports and operate the apps. Each device will also be monitored through its IMEI number.
The Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC) has written to District Education Officers and District Programme Officers, instructing them to maintain secure records of all tablets that are supplied and distributed. Every tablet’s IMEI number is being linked with the name of the school so that there is no confusion or misuse in the future. The tablets are being supplied to the Block Resource Centre (BRC) office, where complete records are being kept of which school has received how many devices.
Authorities say that the digital attendance system will help improve school monitoring in many ways. Real-time attendance reports will allow officials to track student presence in classrooms, detect early signs of dropouts and improve teaching accountability. It will also prevent the possibility of teachers marking attendance from outside school premises. The department believes that such digital reforms will make schools more modern and efficient.
Officials claim that the new system will encourage better discipline among students and teachers, reduce absenteeism and bring more transparency to the education system. With this step, the Bihar government expects its schools to take a major leap toward becoming smart, technology-enabled learning spaces in the coming years.
