Punjab Education Department kicks off a groundbreaking SMS alert system today, notifying parents instantly of student and teacher absences to curb truancy and enhance oversight. Targeting 20 lakh students across 20,000 government schools, the initiative promises real-time transparency.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains unveiled the tech at a Chandigarh school event. “No more excuses—parents get alerts within minutes,” he said, demoing a message: “Your ward Gurpreet Kaur is absent today. Contact the school.” Teachers, too, face scrutiny, with principals pinged for no-shows.
Powered by a Rs 50 crore central database linked to Aadhaar and mobile numbers, it integrates with the VidyaSamiksha portal. Pilots in 500 Amritsar schools slashed absenteeism by 25%. “My son skips less now; I know instantly,” shared farmer Jaswinder Singh.
Critics flag privacy concerns, but officials cite opt-out clauses and data security. Amid Punjab’s 15% dropout rate, this aligns with NEP 2020’s attendance focus.
As bells ring, Punjab sets a national benchmark.