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Punjab School System: Under the new system, it will be mandatory to record student attendance online within a stipulated timeframe after the school opens. The moment a student is marked absent, an SMS notification will be sent immediately to their parents' mobile phones.

Punjab School SMS Alert System: To further strengthen the functioning of government schools in Punjab, the state government is set to implement a new system starting April 1st. Under this initiative, if a student fails to attend school, their parents will receive immediate notification via SMS. A key feature of this system is that it will not be limited solely to students; information regarding a teacher's absence will also be conveyed to parents. The objective of this measure is to boost attendance in schools and introduce greater transparency into the education system. Commenting on this initiative, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that accountability is essential for strengthening the education sector. This SMS alert system is being launched in this direction to establish a direct link between parents and their children's academic progress.

How Will the SMS Alert System Work?

Under the new framework, it will be mandatory to record student attendance online within a specific timeframe after the school commences for the day. As soon as a student is marked absent, an SMS notification will be delivered instantly to their parents' mobile phones. If a student remains absent for two consecutive days, the school staff will contact the family directly to ascertain the reason for their absence. To facilitate this, a new attendance module has been added to the 'e-Punjab' portal, ensuring that the entire process operates in real-time.

Monitoring Teachers' Absences as Well

A major highlight of this system is that it will also monitor the absence of teachers. If a teacher remains absent, this information will likewise be conveyed to the parents. This initiative aims to enhance accountability within schools and reinforce the trust that parents place in the education system. Information Shared via Mega PTMs

Details regarding this initiative were shared during the Mega Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) organized across the state. Over 1.8 million parents participated in this program. Punjab's Education Minister, Harjot Singh, stated that this constitutes one of the largest school-community engagement campaigns in the country. During these events, schools did not merely distribute report cards; rather, detailed discussions were held regarding the students' academic progress, behavior, and overall development. Additionally, exhibitions showcasing students' projects and health-awareness programs were organized. Under this new system, the school Principal has been designated as the Nodal Officer. It will be their responsibility to ensure that all teachers record attendance on time and that parents' mobile numbers remain accurately updated on the portal. Action will also be taken at the school level in cases involving students who are consistently absent.

This Initiative is Part of a Larger Education Reform Plan

This step is an integral part of the Punjab government's comprehensive education reform campaign. Through this initiative, the government aims to enhance the quality of government schools and bring them on par with private schools. To this end, substantial budgetary allocations have been made within the education sector, and several new schemes have been launched. With this transformation, Punjab has now joined the ranks of states that utilize technology to monitor school attendance.