Tarash (Sirajganj) Correspondent
Biometric machines that were installed for digital attendance at 136 government primary schools in Tarash upazila of Sirajganj are now on the verge of going out of order.
As the installed biometric attendance machines were allegedly substandard and the schools have not opened for a long time, the digital attendance machines are breaking down, claim concerned teachers and locals.
According to the 2019 annual report of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the number of government primary schools in the country is 65,620.
In 2018-2019 Fiscal Year, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education decided to install biometric attendance machines in these schools to ensure 100% attendance of teachers.
As per the decision of the Ministry, the cost of purchasing the biometric device was supposed to be borne from the DHP project and later the school authorities was supposed to pay the cost of the device on their own. Several instructions were given in the field by the concerned Ministry and Department through letters.
In order to monitor these activities, a three-member committee with divisional deputy director as the convener, district primary education officer as the member and upazila education officer as the member secretary, was also formed by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.
On condition of anonymity, more than one teacher said that each set of the biometric attendance device was installed in the upazila for the price of Tk 10,000 to 20,000. The school bill shows that half of this money has been spent on devices, domains, hosting, SIMs and various other issues.
However, many of the details have still not been received by many schools. Annual charges for internet have also been taken from the school authorities but no internet connection was provided, the teachers added.
Ayubur Rahman Rajan, Headmaster of Kawrail Government Primary School in Tarash, said digital attendance machines have been purchased in all primary schools of the upazila. As the schools have not opened since March 17 last year due to the Corona pandemic situation, what is the current condition of those devices will be known when the schools will reopen.
Zahurul Islam, Headmaster of Hamkuria Government School in the upazila, said most of the school attendance machines were on the verge of breaking down. When the schools will be reopened, it will be understood whether the machine are still able to work or not.
Tarash Upazila Primary Education Officer Md Akhtaruzzaman said, “Whether the digital attendance machines have broke down due to remaining unused for a long time will be known when the schools reopen. However, if the machine have been damaged it will be a matter of huge financial loss for the authorities”.
