The Education Ministry is pressing ahead with biometric attendance systems for schools, insisting the move is designed to strengthen accountability and improve student outcomes, not to target teachers.
Minister of Education Sonia Parag made the case during the Budget 2026 estimates as the Committee of Supply examined allocations at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
She said the ministry has already circulated standard technical requirements to guide schools in purchasing biometric devices, ensuring the equipment is durable and integrates properly across the system.
Under the outlined approach, schools would procure the systems in accordance with the ministry’s specifications. Parag explained that the devices must also be compatible with the Education Management Information (EMI) system to support smooth data integration and monitoring.
She acknowledged, however, that not every school may be able to finance the equipment. In those cases, the ministry could step in to provide support and ensure the initiative is rolled out consistently nationwide.
Parag also sought to address concerns about how the clock-in/clock-out technology could affect teachers’ working conditions. She told the committee that the new system would not change existing rules for work schedules or overtime arrangements. Teachers, she noted, already record attendance manually, and their duties extend beyond teaching periods to include lesson preparation and administrative tasks.
“This is not a punishment measure for teachers… it is to ensure accountability, better results, and that children are taught, and to ensure that we are transforming digitally as well,” the minister said during the discussions.
She argued that with significant public funds being invested in education, improved performance must follow. Lost teaching time, whether through absenteeism or disruptions, undermines national goals to raise student performance and improve results, she said.
Beyond biometrics, the minister reported increased allocations for telephone and internet expenses, pointing to an expansion of connectivity across the school system. She said upgrades include new satellite connections, transitions from LTE to fibre, and additional bandwidth, particularly for schools in hinterland areas.
Parag also referenced a broader push to improve safety and discipline in schools. Measures include developing standard operating procedures, consultations on anti-bullying policies, and plans to introduce new technology to support school security and incident response.
She said the initiatives form part of the ministry’s wider modernisation drive aimed at improving accountability and raising the overall quality of teaching and learning across Guyana.
