Biometric attendance system to be installed in government schools
Despite State administration launched ‘Super 50’ to provide students standardised facilities, officials today said that nearly twenty two thousand students from rural areas across Kashmir come to summer capital Srinagar to attend their private coaching.However in order to counter the issue, State Board of School Education said that they would install biometric system in schools and attract more students to the ‘Super 50 coaching classes.’
About twenty two thousand students from rural areas of Kashmir come to the summer capital, even during winters, to study at Coaching Centers, officials said today. To counter the issue, Board of School Education will install biometric system in schools and attract more students to the Super 50 coaching classes.
About twenty two thousand students from rural areas of Kashmir come to the summer capital, even during winters, to study at Coaching Centers, officials said today. To counter the issue, Board of School Education will install biometric system in schools and attract more students to the Super 50 coaching classes.
As per the official data of Tuition Centers Union (TCU), there are about 60 thousand students who belong to rural areas.
“About 14 thousand among them move out of the state to study abroad. About 22 thousand come to city and join the coaching centers here,” said President of TCU, G.N War.
Including private schools, there are 3200 schools in the valley. However, despite ‘harsh conditions,’ the students prefer 550 coaching centers over these schools.
“What Naeem Akhtar (Ex- Education minister) says is not true. There is a reason behind the existence and success of these coaching centres. The infrastructure and teaching in our government schools is not of the level that a student can qualify entrance exams,” said War.
Moreover War believes that there has been no improvement in the results of government schools.
“It’s like an illusion. Students only register themselves in the government schools and come to the city to study. They easily pass through the loose attendance system in their schools,” said War.
Most of the students (as well as parents) from across the valley feel that it’s necessary for them to go to a private tutor or join Coaching Centres. According to the concerned officials, a widow who belongs to Sumbal sold her gold jewellery so she could make her son study at a coaching centre in Srinagar. War, who also happens to be a member of School Association, said that about 80 percent of the students who come to the city belong to economy class.
War said, “I have come across parents who even sign contracts to serve as maids at houses of city residents, just to make their children study in the city coaching centers. Education is the only option available for these people.”
Farooq Ahmad, a broker said that he has allotted rented rooms to about 60 students in Paraypora, Baghat in 2016 so far. As per him, there are many brokers who have managed to get more students than him.
Over the issue, Director School Education Srinagar, Dr Shah Faesal said, “We have our own coaching centers now (Super 50).”
He also told KIF that the Directorate of School Education will be issuing an order as per which biometric attendance systems will be installed in the government schools.
“It will ensure that the students attend schools and it will also curb the issue of duplication of enrolment in the valley,” he added.
