KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the School Education Department to use technology to monitor students’ attendance, reduce dropout rates, and address the causes of absenteeism.
Presiding over a meeting at the CM House on the upcoming launch of the Student Attendance Monitoring and Redress System (SAMRS), he said that improving education standards is vital for building a strong and capable human resource in the province.
The chief minister instructed officials to ensure that the new system not only identifies absentees but also investigates issues affecting teaching and learning environments, allowing timely action where needed.
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The meeting was attended by Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Planning and Development Chairman Najam Shah, School Education Secretary Zahid Abbasi, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi, and Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, among others.
New Attendance System to Curb School Dropouts:
Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah briefed the meeting, saying that SAMRS is a technology-based initiative developed under the Sindh Early Learning Enhancement through Classroom Transformation (SELECT) project. It is supported by the Sindh government, the World Bank, and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
He explained that the system would help reduce absenteeism and dropouts by providing real-time data on attendance and other key indicators through an offline mobile app and dashboard. Initially, it will be implemented in 600 schools across 12 districts, with plans to expand it to all schools in Sindh in phases.
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Sindh Aims to Improve Education Through Technology:
The minister added that the initiative is a milestone for Sindh, serving as a model for other regions in the Global South, Africa, and Latin America where technology is being used to strengthen education systems and support student retention. The formal launch of the programme will be held soon.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to education reforms, stating, “Education is the greatest strength of our human resource. Investing in our students’ future ensures Sindh’s progress and prosperity.”
He urged all stakeholders to work together to make education accessible, effective, and inclusive across the province.
