Hyderabad, June 25: The Telangana School Education Department has started using an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Facial Recognition System (FRS) to record attendance in government schools across the state. The new system aims to replace manual roll calls and make attendance faster and more accurate.
The project is part of the state’s efforts to modernise classrooms and improve school management through digital technology.
How the AI Attendance System Works
Teachers now use an authorised mobile app on a smartphone or tablet to capture a single group photo of students in the classroom. The AI system quickly compares each student’s face with the registered database. Within seconds, it marks students as present or absent and updates the attendance record.
The attendance data is then synced in real time with the Vidya Samiksha Kendra, allowing education officials to monitor attendance across schools.
Large-Scale Rollout Across Telangana
The Telangana government has expanded the project after successful pilot programmes in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Medchal districts.
The AI attendance system is now being introduced in more than 26,000 government and local body schools, including Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) and several welfare institutions. The department has also extended the system to hundreds of government junior colleges.
Teachers Also Use the System
The Facial Recognition System is not limited to students. Teaching and non-teaching staff must first record their attendance by taking a geo-tagged selfie before registering student attendance. Officials say this helps improve transparency and ensures accurate attendance records for both students and staff.
Challenges Reported
Although the new system offers several benefits, some teachers have reported technical issues. These include app crashes, software problems, internet connectivity issues, and occasional errors in facial recognition. Some users also said the app incorrectly marked attendance or displayed the wrong student information. Teachers have requested further improvements to make the system more reliable.
Privacy Concerns
Meanwhile, digital rights organisations, including the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), have raised concerns about the collection and storage of students’ facial data. They have asked for clear safeguards to protect biometric information and ensure responsible use of the technology.
Conclusion
The Telangana government’s AI-based Facial Recognition System marks a major step in the digital transformation of school education. While the technology promises faster attendance and better monitoring, its long-term success will depend on system reliability, data security, and continued improvements based on feedback from teachers and schools.