Although there have been significant achievements in the primary education in terms of enrolment of the students and free distribution of books around, the present scenario of primary education is still not to the international standard. Recent reports published in this daily suggest that the government is working tirelessly to ensure quality education in all levels of student’s life. In order to do that the authorities have taken the decision to introduce biometric attendance system in the government primary schools within this month to ensure proper attendance of teachers.
Often times in the rural areas where the main source of education are the government schools the scene is the teachers are regularly absent at the schools for various reasons. Under such circumstances, the primary level students are not getting the education what they are supposed to. This initiative to introduce biometric attendance systems at the primary schools is definitely one that will ensure the attendance of the teachers.
On another note, the primary reasons behind teachers being absent from schools and skipping their duty is the pay. The government pay, according to some government school teachers, is not sufficient for sustaining a family that is why often time teachers look for other sources of income. And due to the poor pay, meritorious students do not come to this profession. This is also a major impediment to ensuring quality basic education for all.
Nevertheless, the suffering that the primary level students are bearing in the sense of lack of education cannot be fulfilled until the authorities concerned with the education of the primary level take strong handed steps. Surely, the introduction of biometric attendance will uplift the quality of education in the country. The government should immediately form an independent pay commission for the teachers at all levels. The government should ensure quality primary education which must align with 1990 Education Act and National Education Policy 2010.
