Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has announced plans to establish six new Schools of Eminence and two Danish Schools in the province, promising improved educational facilities for students.
The announcement was made during the provincial education minister’s visit to a School of Eminence in the constituency of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
During his visit to the School of Eminence at Nishtar Park, Rana Sikandar Hayat reviewed educational facilities, infrastructure, laboratories and other arrangements being provided to students.
The minister said the provincial government was using public funds wisely and investing resources in providing quality education to children. He claimed that the establishment of Schools of Eminence had encouraged private schools to improve and follow their infrastructure standards.
Rana Sikandar Hayat said no private institution currently offered laboratories and infrastructure comparable to those available at the Schools of Eminence.
Responding to criticism of the Schools of Eminence, the provincial education minister challenged critics to present a project offering facilities of a similar standard.
He said quality education and modern educational facilities were every child’s right, adding that the government was working to improve the standard of education in public schools through better infrastructure and modern facilities.
On the other hand, a facial recognition-based attendance system for teachers was launched in government schools across Sindh, including Karachi.
Under the Sindh School Education Department, the attendance of teachers and non-teaching staff at government schools will be digitally recorded. The pilot phase of the Facial Recognition Attendance Monitoring and Evaluation System began today.
Initially, the facial recognition attendance system has been introduced in six districts: Karachi East, Hyderabad, Naushahro Feroze, Jacobabad, Ghotki and Umerkot.
A total of 49,565 teaching and non-teaching employees will have their attendance monitored through facial recognition technology.
Officials said teachers will be able to use the application on any mobile phone to mark their attendance. Attendance can also be recorded in the absence of an internet connection.
Once internet connectivity is restored, the attendance record will be updated automatically. Teachers will be required to record both their arrival and departure from school in the system and will be able to view their attendance records through the application.
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