Maharashtra to Replace School Attendance Registers with Chatbot Technology

Mumbai, Maharashtra: In a bid to streamline the school attendance process and lighten teachers' workloads, the Maharashtra School Education Department is rolling out a chatbot-based attendance system. Under the Vidya Samiksha Kendra initiative, teachers will soon use the 'SwiftChat' mobile application to mark student attendance digitally, phasing out traditional physical registers.

Previously, teachers manually recorded attendance in physical registers, a time-consuming process. With SwiftChat, educators will only need to record absentees, simplifying record-keeping. The system will integrate with platforms like Saral and UDISE+ for seamless academic tracking. Each student’s Aadhaar ID and school number will be linked for verification, ensuring accurate attendance records.

The new system aims to eliminate manual logs, saving time while improving efficiency. It will also directly connect to the Mid-Day Meal Scheme to avoid data duplication across government programs. The app is already in use for other administrative tasks, making the transition smoother for teachers.

Despite the optimistic view from the government, some educators are concerned about the effectiveness of the system. While they acknowledge the potential for reduced manual work, some worry about verifying attendance and possible technical glitches. Teachers also hope for a reduction in non-academic duties to further ease their workload.

With the right support and feedback, this initiative promises to modernize education administration, marking a significant shift in the way schools manage attendance.