AP teachers on warpath over app-based attendance

Over 70% schools marked attendance by the teachers and employees under the new system. The State has about 60,000 government schools. Out of 1.80 lakh teachers, less than 40,000 marked their attendance through the app

Visakhapatnam: The recent introduction of marking attendance of government school teachers through facial recognition app has turned controversial with the teachers alleging problems with regard to installing it to mark their attendance as well as network issues.

The teachers' organisations in Andhra Pradesh have also expressed apprehensions over prospects of security breach and asked the government to ensure broadband connectivity in the length and breadth of the State and supply of tabs/mobile phones to install the app.

However, highly placed sources in the government told Bizz Buzz on Thursday their aim is to ensure almost 100 per cent attendance of the teachers to improve the performance of the students in the board exams. The government also received complaints from some places that a section of teachers without going to school are marking their presence through dubious means.

As on Thursday morning, over 70 per cent schools marked attendance by the teachers and employees under the new system. The State has about 60,000 government schools. Out of 1.80 lakh teachers, less than 40,000 marked their attendance through the app. There is also a proposal to introduce the app for recording the attendance of six lakh students studying at various schools.

Commissioner of School Education Suresh Kumar scoffed at the criticism of the teachers' bodies and said their apprehensions are unfounded. He said as part of reforms in the education sector, they have introduced facial recognition-linked attendance.

Federation of AP Teachers' Organisation (FAPTO) Joseph Sudhir Bau said in over 70 per cent schools, the teachers are facing network issues. In some places, they had to go in advance and trek a few kilometres to access the internet to mark their attendance. He alleged that though the teachers were transferred as part of rationalisation, while marking attendance, the old schools are getting reflected in the attendance.

AP Upadhyaya Sangam State President Ch Sravan Kumar said and AP Teachers' Federation president G Hurdaya Raju said in separate statements that they wonder why the government dispensed with the old system of biometric attendance and sought supply of mobile phones/tabs to download apps for facial recognition and ensure access to internet in the area where schools are located. They said the teachers instead of devoting time to teach are now forced to struggle to upload the app and mark their attendance.