E-Attendance Systems Fail in Diktel Schools: A Call for Accountability

Khotang, November 1, 2023 - Multiple schools in the Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality are grappling with defunct electronic attendance (e-Attendance) systems, raising concerns about the management and investment in education infrastructure.

Snapshot of the Situation:

• Panch Secondary School: The e-attendance system has been non-functional for a year, as informed by Headmaster Bhavkrishna Dhakal.

• Jyoti Secondary School: Located in Ward No. 12 Jalpa, the school hasn't had an operational electronic attendance system since 2019.

• Champavati Secondary School: The system failed after approximately one and a half years.

The municipality and schools have shown a notable lack of initiative in either repairing the faulty equipment or installing new ones.

Background of the E-Attendance Initiative:

In a bid to improve educational quality and ensure teacher regularity, the municipality installed e-attendance systems in 18 secondary schools. The initiative, which kicked off on September 17, 2018, under the leadership of then-municipality head Deepnarayan Rizal, involved a hefty expenditure. The primary purpose was to monitor teacher attendance in real time, marking their entry and exit timings. Initially, the system positively impacted teacher punctuality.

The Concern:

Despite its promising start, the initiative soon fizzled out. Negligence from both the municipality and the schools led to the systems becoming obsolete. Parents note that the lack of urgency in restoring the system has caused frustration among some teachers.

Political Angle:

Former mayor Rizal, who hailed from the Communist Party of Nepal [UML], has faced criticism for allegedly promoting a private company's e-Attendance equipment. The change in the political landscape, with the current Mayor and Deputy Mayor representing an alliance, has sparked speculations. Some believe that the current representatives show indifference towards projects initiated by their predecessors.

Current Mayor's Take:

Tirtharaj Bhattarai, the current Mayor, attributes the system's failures to substandard equipment. Highlighting the widespread malfunction, he said, "We are reviewing the agreement between the selling company and the municipality. If any scams are uncovered, appropriate actions will be taken."

The e-Attendance initiative, which began with a promise of enhancing educational standards, now stands as a testament to negligence and potential malpractice. The school heads affirm that several systems broke down within months. The pandemic further aggravated the situation, leading to most e-Attendance systems being shut down. The need of the hour is accountability and rectification to restore faith in the educational infrastructure.