How Biometric Technology can be leveraged in Education Sector?

Biometrics technology authenticates identity-based on physical characteristics such as fingerprints, irises, facial structure, voice, and even gestures, Amongst all other biometrics fingerprint recognition is the easiest to implement and the most cost-effective access control method. With its capabilities and applications, biometric technology has become a useful tool for instructors looking to enforce academic integrity. Once recorded with biometrics, identity is established for a lifetime.

The way Biometry has proved traditional methods of identification like documents and ID cards insignificant is no longer a debatable topic. It has already eliminated a significant portion of paperwork, formalities, and procedures associated with traditional identity and authentication systems and reduce wastage of time.

Businesses and enterprises are implementing biometric systems not only for identification of their employees but also for security, access control, personal device management, and time tracking.

Transformation in Education:

Biometrics are hitting the big change in the education sector in India as this sector is seen as a step to sustainable development in contributing to economic growth. Biometric technology has changed the way how identification system works for students into preschools to higher standard schools, colleges, coaching institutions, and vocational courses today in time. Many schools have already adopted biometrics for various purposes including attendance systems, serving meals in the cafeteria, assess control and security to streamline day to day operations.

There are various programs and activities that run simultaneously in a school like attendance, access, meals, transportation, distribution, etc. Keeping records of students’ participation in various programs and activities is an important task. Security has also become imperative in school operations as changing times are posing new threats to school security. There have been many instances when school security was compromised and even costed lives of innocents.

How biometric technology can help streamline school operations?

The synchronization of various activities and punctuality is a critical aspect for any school to maintain discipline. Implementing biometrics at various fronts of schools can reduce manual efforts, paperwork and time taken in various processes including student registration, attendance, reporting, equipment allotment, library, invoicing.

Installing a biometric access control system on the main door will prevent any security threats to enter the school premises. This system also makes school transportation securer for students and convenient for drivers. Younger students often face difficulties in getting on the right bus and getting down at the correct stop as well as New drivers can also fail at visual identification and remembering details. Biometrics can help school authorities to store all these details and make school transport secure and efficient.

Following are the areas where biometrics can streamline school operations:

Student registration

Student’s biometrics can be recorded in the school management software at the time of admission and student identity gets established as long as the student stays in the school. Students require access to many places to avail facilities and to gain access. In certain areas, only specific students can have access, such as a cafeteria, library, subject-specific labs, theater, and classrooms. One time registration of a student’s biometrics makes it possible to grant or deny access to all or specific places. This can be achieved in a few simple steps once implemented biometric access control to all those areas in schools.

Attendance

With biometrics, there is no need to put efforts in daily attendance and do not require to do much with the paperwork. The biometric attendance system can entirely replace manual attendance system with all paperwork and calculation efforts associated with it. Biometric recognition methods like the fingerprint, iris or retina recognition can be employed to automate the attendance system, however, fingerprint recognition is best suited as it is the most cost-effective and easy to implement. Once a student is in school, he will scan his/her biometric and their attendance is done this way it gets easy to track and reported student’s late arrivals, early departures, absences.

Exams

Biometric base examinations can track and report attendance and absences without putting any manual efforts of checking student IDs or counting heads. Attendance is marked instantly as soon as any student scan their biometrics and can gain access to enter into the classroom or to exams effortlessly.

Cafeteria

In some schools, students who are served under subsidized meal plans are required to sign to get the meal and it makes them feel different in front of other students but now students meal gets served in the cafeteria depending on their biometrics scanned and records. This results in food serving in shorter queues and lesser wait times. They do not need to carry cash to pay for a meal or don’t have to be without food if any student has forgotten to bring money.

In India, the Government is collectively spending a huge budget on meal programs but at the same time, these funds are only released by government officials who receive accurate and auditable records of meals served in such schools. This level of accuracy and reliability can be achieved with the implementation of an effective canteen management system.

Library

Traditional card based library systems has also many limitations such as cards can be lost, manipulated, and shared. Some students also share library cards when they have overdue material with them. This unbalanced procedure of maintaining book records can be streamlined with biometrics.

Invoicing

Generating invoice can be much easier for account department with the biometric technology. Keeping accounting records such as student’s fees and dues can be easily generated just with their biometric scan.

Printing

Implementation of biometric will make sure only eligible people and devices can print confidential documents such as question papers, result sheets, and project documents.