Hindi in biometric attendance systems for teachers triggers row

Tamil Nadu government has decided to introduce biometric systems in all the State-run schools in a phased manner from June. During the first phase, the new electronic attendance system was introduced in about 5,000 government schools across Tamil Nadu. In those devices, the instructions on the display screen was English.

During the second phase, the School Education Department installed the biometric attendance system in about 7,000 government middle and high schools in several districts. This time, however, teachers started complaining about the biometric system, pointing out that Hindi has been introduced as additional instruction on the display screen.

Opposing this, Tamil Nadu Teachers Association has questioned the authorities how Hindi could be introduced in the attendance device used in the State, which is opposing the imposition of the languagefor a long time.

Speaking to DT Next, the president of the association, PK Ilamaran, charged that introducing Hindi in the teachers’ attendance system appeared deliberate and sought for its stoppage. “Representations will be given to the authorities to immediately replace all the biometric devices that contains Hindi instructions,” he said.

A senior official from Directorate of School Education said that there was no specific instruction to the company that supplies biometric attendance system for including Hindi instruction in the device. “If it hurts the sentiments of the teachers, changes will be made after taking up the issue with School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan,” he added. This controversy came close on the heels of the row that was triggered by the Centre suggesting to make Hindi a compulsory subject in the draft of the New Education Policy that was released recently. It had led to protests by political parties and activists against the Centre and the BJP.