Teachers’ clocking system unveiled

 By PHOEBE GWANGILO 
TEACHERS in 200 schools in the country will soon be using the palms of their hands on a biometric system to clock in and out, Education Minister Nick Kuman says.
Speaking during the launching of the time and attendance system at Parliament House yesterday in Port Moresby, Kuman said the programme was ready for use in high schools and secondary schools in five provinces.
“We will extend this programme to all schools in National Capital District, Central, East New Britain Morobe and Western Highlands,” he said. “This also includes schools where there is no access to electricity. Teachers will clock in in the morning upon arrival and clockout in the afternoon, or whenever they leave the school.”
According to the managing director of the Time and Access System, Harry Simpson, the palm reader could also be operated in schools having no access to electricity.
“It operates on both power and solar panels, so the system will transfer information from the schools through mobile network down to Fincorp Haus. All the management team at the Fincorp Haus will access the information.”
Acting secretary for Education Dr Uke Kombra said the project, which would reach other provinces later, was part of the education reform system to improve some chronic issues in the teaching service to achieve two primary goals.
“Number one, we will see that every child in Papua New Guinea is educated, secondly we would see that the education and training that they receive is quality and is favourable to any part of the word.”