Schools reopen in Karnataka; AI attendance system debuts in pre-university colleges

Bengaluru: After a long wait, an AI-based facial recognition attendance system has been launched at pre-university colleges.

Under the initiative named ‘Nirantara,’ instead of a roll call, lecturers just take a quick group photo of the classroom on their mobile phones to mark attendance. The daily attendance data captured through the system will be integrated and recorded automatically into the Student Achievement Tracking System (SATS) software. This ensures less paperwork, accurate attendance tracking, and more uninterrupted time for teaching and learning.

“To ensure smooth operations, comprehensive digital attendance training was provided to all lecturers across every govt college last week,” said Bharat S, director of PU education.

This will be followed by training for high school teachers, upper primary, and then primary.

Meanwhile, schools reopened across the state Monday. Chief minister-designate DK Shivakumar wished all students success. “Students educated in the state have made invaluable contributions at the global level, and the entire world is witness to this. Our students have studied in most of the world’s universities and have many accomplishments,” he said.

“We have precious human resources. That’s why the world sees India through Karnataka. For this very reason, our elders established institutions like IIT, IIM, National Law School, Isro, HAL, and other major institutions right here. Children must pursue their education with the aim of carrying these forward,” he said.

“Govt school children must not lose confidence. Our schools have good teachers. You are just as talented as children studying in private schools,” he added.

When asked about calls to provide saffron shawls as an alternative to the hijab, he said, “Whether it should be a saffron shawl or a national flag shawl, let us discuss later.”

Meanwhile, in a long post on X, Shivakumar also wrote about the teacher who shaped his life — KP Gopalkrishna, founder and chairman of NPS Group of Institutions. “Not just a teacher who taught lessons in classroom, but one who inspired a way of thinking, a way of leading, and a way of serving society,” he said, calling himself a proud NPS alumnus.