Digital attendance introduced in 3,481 Sindh schools, parents to receive absence alerts

KARACHI: The Sindh Education Department has expanded its digital student attendance and monitoring system to 3,481 government schools as part of ongoing reforms aimed at modernising the province’s education system.

Under the initiative launched on the directives of Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, each student will be assigned a digital educational profile containing records of attendance, academic performance and examinations.

According to the Education Department, 3,481 government schools had been brought under the new digital system by August 10, while the government has set a target of digitising all government schools across Sindh by April 2027.

The Sindh Cabinet approved the policy in March 2026. The system will enable authorities to monitor students’ daily attendance and identify cases of prolonged absenteeism, helping detect students at risk of dropping out at an early stage.

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Each student will receive a unique Student ID and QR code. Parents will also receive SMS alerts in cases of prolonged absence, enabling them to identify the reasons for absenteeism and help keep their children connected to education.

The department said the system would also facilitate the issuance of certificates and preparation of students’ academic reports. An offline attendance facility has been incorporated for schools located in areas with weak internet connectivity.

The digital platform also features geofenced attendance and facial recognition technology and has been integrated with key education-related digital platforms.

According to the department, the system will eventually be linked with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), further integrating and streamlining students’ educational records.