IN a bid to streamline attendance tracking and to enhance adminis-trative efficiency, the Sindh Education and Literacy Department (SELD) had introduced a Project Management System (PMS) app that was developed by the National Information Tech-nology Board (NITB) for teachers working in government schools in various districts. Launched on Jan 3 and last updated on Feb 20, the app aimed at using technology for a smoother and more organised approach to teacher attendance management.

However, what was anticipated to be a revolutionary step has turned into a headache for the teachers in Sindh.

Despite its initial promise, the app has been plagued by persistent issues, with the last update dating back to February. The lack of subsequent updates has left the users grappling with a host of problems, making the daily task of marking attendance a frustrating ordeal.

One of the primary concerns reported by teachers is the troublesome login process. Many have voiced their frustration over having to spend significant amounts of time attempting to log in, often facing server downtimes and internal server errors. The inconvenience is exacerbated by the fact sometimes the app marks even teachers taking classes in schools as not being on duty.

Another element of frustration is the rigid 30-minute window for logging in; a window that has become increasingly impractical with recent changes in school timings.

With the alteration of school hours starting Nov 1, teachers find themselves struggling to meet the new schedule, with instances of the app marking them late even if they log in just a minute past the stipulated time.

The situation has raised concerns about the reliability of the application, and about its impact on the overall work environment. Teachers from the very beginning of the process were hesitant about the integration of technology in their daily routines.

They now find themselves caught in a cycle of technical glitches, further fuelling their resistance to the PMS app. The education department should address these issues promptly.

A swift and sustainable solution is imperative to ensure that the teachers were able to focus on their primary task of imparting education rather than battling with a amazingly faulty attendance system.

Additionally, an update for the PMS app is long overdue and is crucial to restoring confidence in the system.

Amanullah Saand
Matiari

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2023