Xavier's College now circulates a biometric machine inside the classroom registering the attendance of the students present during a lecture
In order to ensure that students do not mark proxy attendance for their classmates, St Xavier's College in Mumbai has introduced biometric system. Colleges affiliated with Mumbai University have to ensure each student should have mandatory 75 per cent attendance every month. Xavier's College now circulates a biometric machine inside the classroom registering the attendance of the students present during a lecture.
According to Fr Agnelo Menezes, Principal, the biometric system was initially introduced for Zoology, BSc IT and Bachelor of Vocation Tourism. They have further implemented for Microbiology, Botony, Bachelor of Mass Media, Bachelor of Management Studies, Psychology and Software Development departments. The college started registering attendance on biometric machines in November last year. Like any other digital object biometric machine too needs charging and teachers have to ensure its charged regularly.
Fr Menezes said, "To ensure glitch free and smooth working of biometric machines we are still maintaining the attendance manually too. Some colleges use swipe card for marking attendance of students, but again that can be used to mark proxy. Once we are sure that this biometric system is eroor-free we will implement in all the steam in our college."
Swati Kadam (name changed), one of Xavier's students, said, "When this system was introduced we felt it was time consuming, but I guess, it is required. The biometric machines are circulated in this class by the teacher and once the attendance is marked by everyone present in the class the teacher also registers her attendance, which locks the machine. Whoever is late cannot register their attendance once the machine is locked the teacher's attendance. Another interesting feature is that teacher uses different finger to mark the attendance in each class. The manual attendance system still exists but once the system is considered to be foolproof that will be replaced completely via biometric system.
According to students if any professor remain absent for lecture then the machine cannot be used to mark attendance of students as for that lecture to open the machine that particular professor's finger impression is required. So at that time the roll call is done.
Bharti Chawla (name changed) another student, said, "In this era of digitization this move is must. There have been instances where students have failed to appear for their examination due t low attendance. Now this biometric system of attendance will serve as proof for students and colllege respectively."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Biometric attendance")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}