Karnataka govt makes face recognition attendance compulsory in schools

Bengaluru, Feb 17: The Karnataka government has now made face recognition mandatory for the attendance of school children. Attendance will be recorded through an AI-based student face attendance monitoring system. In this regard, the state education department has issued an order. Instructions have been given to ensure that students’ attendance is recorded without fail in the AI software. The system will be implemented from the current academic year itself.

From the academic year 2026-27, face recognition technology has been implemented. It has been made compulsory in aided and government schools. Face recognition technology has been developed at a total cost of Rs 2.16 crore. The order clearly states that the AI mobile app must be implemented in all schools by the month of May. It also states that parents of children can verify attendance through the SATS software.

Not only for students, face recognition technology has also been made mandatory for teachers’ attendance henceforth. Therefore, no teacher will be able to mark attendance without being physically present. This will expose the malpractices that were taking place in some places. Like students, teachers too must mark attendance through face recognition technology.

The order directs the implementation of the ‘Niranthara’ programme to record the attendance of students of government and aided schools and colleges in the state through an AI-based student face attendance monitoring system mobile application.