… Pilot phase begins in 6 public schools
BY ETINOSA ODIGIE
BENIN CITY — The Edo State Government has introduced a technology-driven Smart Attendance System (SAS) aimed at improving punctuality, accountability, and performance among teachers in public schools.
The initiative, launched by the Directorate of Education Quality Assurance (DEQA) in line with the SHINE agenda, marks another step toward the state’s vision of integrating innovation into education management and monitoring.
The official flag-off took place at Itohan Girls Grammar School, Benin City, signalling the start of the pilot phase in six schools.
Other participating schools include Aduwawa Secondary School and Urora Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, as well as Evbareke Secondary School, Useh Secondary School, and Egor Secondary School in Egor Local Government Area.
The programme is a collaborative effort between DEQA, the Information and Communications Technology Agency (ICTA), and Nero Digital Solutions.
Speaking at the launch, the Director-General of DEQA, Dr. Amen Ogbemudia, described the Smart Attendance System as a transformative innovation that will enable real-time monitoring of teachers’ attendance across the state.
“With this system, education managers can immediately know how many teachers are present in any school without leaving their offices. It will help eliminate ghost teachers, reduce truancy, and promote punctuality and integrity among educators,” she said.
Dr. Ogbemudia commended the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, for his visionary leadership and continued support for reforms that drive excellence in the education sector.
According to her, the Smart Attendance System will automate attendance tracking, provide instant visibility of teachers’ data statewide, reduce paperwork, and enhance the quality assurance process through accurate recordkeeping.
The pilot phase will run throughout the current academic term, after which DEQA will gather feedback from school administrators, teachers, and inspectors to assess the system’s performance, user experience, and impact on punctuality before statewide rollout.
The Principal of Egor Senior Secondary School, Mr. Onaifo Odion Osewengie, lauded the initiative as commendable and forward-thinking, noting that it has already yielded positive results in participating schools.
He called for its sustainability to ensure continuous improvement in education quality across Edo State.
