Bhubaneswar: The higher education department has decided to introduce a student biometric attendance system through the higher education information management system (HIMS) on a pilot basis in 10 higher education institutions from Wednesday.In a directive issued on Tuesday, the department stated that the move is aimed at ensuring reliable and transparent recording, monitoring and verification of students’ classroom attendance, in wake of govt implementing the free education Gyanodaya scheme.Students receiving benefits under the scheme are required to maintain a minimum 75% classroom attendance, which would be verified through biometric or any other mode of digital recording through HIMS.Joint secretary to govt Mousumi Nayak said the biometric attendance system would initially be implemented in a phased manner in 10 higher education institutions as a pilot. The institutions have been directed to undertake enrolment and mapping of students, capture and upload biometric credentials, record attendance and synchronise attendance data with HIMS as per the prescribed standard operating procedure.Each participating institution will also have to nominate a nodal officer to coordinate implementation of the system. The department said the experience and feedback from the pilot institutions would be assessed and used for refinement and stabilisation of the system before its proposed statewide rollout in other eligible higher education institutions.
