Stepping up: Education, health depts installing biometrics

Aims to improve attendance, efficiency and service delivery.

PESHAWAR: Biometric attendance systems have been introduced by the health and education departments to streamline operations of schools and hospitals in the province.

A biometric attendance system will be installed at educational offices and institutes across the province on a phase-wise basis.

Speaking at the launch ceremony on Thursday, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Muhammad Atif Khan said the biometric system aims to ensure officials of the management cadre carry out their duties responsibly.

“This system will not only ensure punctuality, but recognise efforts of those who have been working hard to bring change,” he said. “In the first phase, the system will be introduced at education offices across the province.”

According to Khan, the system would be extended to all the government high and higher secondary schools in its second phase. “During the third phase, the system will be implemented in all the remaining government schools.”

According to a handout issued by the K-P Elementary and Secondary Education department on Thursday, the new system aims to overcome absenteeism among teachers and education officials.

“The new GPS-based biometric system will ensure punctuality, accuracy and improve management,” the handout added.

Checks and balances

Similarly, a GPS-based biometric attendance system has been inaugurated to improve efficiency at hospitals.

The initiative was introduced by the K-P Information Technology department under ADP and costs Rs57 million.

According to a handout issued on Thursday by the health ministry, the new system will improve the overall performance of public sector health service delivery outlets in the province.

“This will be achieved by ensuring punctuality,” stated the handout.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at Lady Reading Hospital on Thursday, Minister for Health Shahram Khan Tarakai said the system will provide real-time information about the attendance of employees.

“All those involved in the health sector will be enrolled in the biometric system,” he said. “This will eliminate the problem of ghost employees and ensure productivity at institutions and departments.”

According to Tarakai, pay slips and annual confidential reports will be attached to the enrolment system.

“The system will ensure those who are performing their duties are duly rewarded,” he said. “However, those health sector officials who are performing their duties negligently will have to face the music.”

Tarakai said the system will be launched at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Ayub Medical Complex, Mardan Medical Complex, Khyber Teaching Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital Swabi.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2015.