Governor Pushes for Biometric Attendance in State Universities

Fast Summary

• Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan has directed public universities and affiliated colleges to implement biometric attendance for staff and students.
• The directive stems from concerns about low attendance in colleges. While some institutions support the move,implementation challenges are anticipated.
• Mumbai University issued a circular linking staff salaries to biometric attendance but has not extended this system to students yet.
• Manny universities currently track staff attendance biometrically but lack systems for monitoring student presence in lectures.
• Principals admit enforcement of 75% attendance norms has largely failed in many colleges, except a few with strict rules. Challenges persist due to limited oversight over unaided colleges and gaps in teacher data collection by universities.
• An educationist suggested government-enforced norms with flying squads for surprise checks could address systemic issues affecting classroom learning post-pandemic.

!biometric Attendance Directive Image

Indian Opinion Analysis
The Governor’s push for mandatory biometric attendance highlights ongoing concerns regarding academic discipline and declining classroom engagement across Maharashtra’s higher education landscape-issues exacerbated as the pandemic’s disruption of regular schooling patterns. However,practical hurdles such as managing approximately 900 affiliated colleges present significant barriers,particularly when aided versus unaided institutions demonstrate inconsistent adherence to existing regulations like 75% minimum classroom attendance norms.

Implementation will require centralized coordination among state stakeholders -including government bodies,university authorities,and college administrations-to address system-wide inefficiencies like lack of database integration on teaching staff or infrastructure inadequacies at unaided private institutions. Enforcement mechanisms (e.g., surprise inspections) could ensure compliance while balancing logistical feasibility with efforts toward improving educational outcomes seen as deteriorating post-pandemic.

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