Punjab Government Unveils Online Attendance Tracking System for Schools
The Punjab government, on Thursday, launched a comprehensive state-wide online attendance tracking system across all government schools. This initiative falls under the latest phase of Mission Samrath 4.0, designed to bolster real-time accountability and ensure uninterrupted learning in classrooms.
Boosting Accountability and Parental Engagement
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, alongside former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, officially rolled out the program. The system is strategically aimed at improving student attendance, enhancing classroom engagement, and strengthening accountability between schools and families. By reinforcing the critical link between attendance and learning outcomes, it sends daily SMS alerts to parents regarding their child's attendance status.
Minister Bains elaborated: "Parents will receive daily SMS alerts on their child's attendance, with immediate notifications for any absence. If a child is absent for seven consecutive days, it will trigger a district-level parent contact. Absences extending beyond 15 days will be escalated to state headquarters. This dual approach ensures both learning continuity and child safety."
Mission Samrath's Transformative Impact
Emphasizing the profound impact of the program, Bains stated, "Mission Samrath has fundamentally transformed classroom dynamics. This new phase focuses on enhancing teaching quality and accountability through precise attendance tracking, improved monitoring mechanisms, and the sharing of best practices. Our ultimate goal is to guarantee that every child achieves strong foundational learning."
Substantial Investment in Education
Highlighting the Punjab government's significant financial commitment to education, Bains revealed, "Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has increased the education budget from Rs 12,657 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 19,279 crore in 2026-27—the largest allocation for any sector in Punjab. This funding is not merely on paper; it has reached every school. In past regimes, teachers often collected donations for basic repairs. Now, they report having unspent grants, a testament to improved resource management."
Enhanced Infrastructure and Academic Reforms
He further detailed improvements in school infrastructure, noting that every senior secondary school with over 500 students now has a dedicated campus manager. Schools with more than 100 students have been provided security guards and sanitation staff—facilities that were previously unavailable.
On academic reforms, Bains added, "Textbooks now reach students promptly. Previously, teachers had to photocopy pages until September or October. This year, the Punjab government delivered complete textbooks to every child on April 1, free of cost, mirroring private school standards, achieved through meticulous planning and political will."
Core Focus and National Recognition
Explaining the core focus of Mission Samrath 4.0, he said, "The program ensures that children in grades III to VIII master reading, writing, and mathematics." Sharing a compelling classroom example, he added, "A Class VIII student from Gardale village in Ropar remarked, 'I passed Class V but knew nothing. Thanks to Samrath, I can now converse with confidence.' The results are evident in national data: Punjab has surpassed the national average in foundational learning by 18% in Grade III and 26-28% in Grade VI. That is our real achievement."
Bains noted that Mission Samrath has grown into one of India's largest foundational learning programs, covering nearly 12 lakh students and engaging over 70,000 teachers annually. Its innovative level-based teaching approach, which groups students by learning level rather than grade, has contributed to Punjab's top rank in the Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH).
Praise from Manish Sisodia
Manish Sisodia commended the efforts, stating, "Punjab has demonstrated that government schools can lead the nation. Being ranked number one in PARAKH 2024 is a testament to this success. With Mission Samrath 4.0, the state ensures every child attends school daily and learns effectively. This is a significant step toward global excellence."
