Delhi government is mulling to introduce facial recognition system in schools as part of its efforts to improve student attendance and streamline administrative processes.
This proposal was a key topic during a high-level meeting held on 25 July, where officials discussed various strategies to enhance transparency and efficiency within the education system, according to a report in Indian Express.
Current attendance rates in the Delhi‘s schools are reported to be between 65% and 70%, prompting calls for measures to address this issue. Citing an official, the report said that senior officials highlighted the importance of improving attendance, indicating that a “significant improvement” is necessary.
The proposed use of facial recognition technology is intended to automate attendance tracking, reduce potential errors, and provide parents with regular updates.
According to one official involved in the discussions, “Prioritising automation of student attendance using face recognition technology is crucial for improving accuracy and efficiency.” The initiative also includes plans to send parents monthly attendance reports and to introduce regular assessments to keep students engaged.
However, the proposal has sparked some concerns among educators. One school principal expressed reservations about the approach, suggesting that addressing attendance issues may require more than just administrative solutions. The principal pointed out that students from disadvantaged backgrounds often face challenges that extend beyond school, and a more holistic approach might be needed.
“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,” the principal said.
The consideration of facial recognition technology in Delhi schools is part of a broader trend, with similar initiatives being explored in educational institutions in other countries. The technology has been implemented in some schools globally to monitor student attendance and behaviour, though it has also raised concerns about privacy and data security.
In India, Telangana has already embarked on a similar path, with the state’s School Education Department implementing an AI-based facial recognition system across its government schools to replace manual attendance recording.
This system, launched in September 2023, aims to cover 26 lakh students in over 26,000 schools, streamlining attendance processes through an Android app that captures and synchronises students’ facial data for automatic attendance marking.
Before a full-scale rollout, the Delhi government plans to test the system in a select number of schools to assess its effectiveness and address any potential issues. “Before implementing the system across all schools, it needs to be tested in a few schools to evaluate its effectiveness and address any issues,” an official noted.
