Sindh launches student attendance system in 600 schools across 12 districts

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday launched the Student Attendance Monitoring and Redress System (SAMRS) describing it as a ‘pioneering, transformative, and nationally replicable model’ that put technology and evidence-based planning at the core of education reform.

Speaking at the provincial launch ceremony at a local hotel, the CM said the SAMRS marked the first time that any province in Pakistan had introduced an integrated digital platform linking student attendance, school infrastructure, teacher performance and learning outcomes.

“This is not just a monitoring tool,” he said. “It is a system that allows us to make decisions grounded in data rather than assumptions. It provides the clarity to identify the challenges our children face and the ability to respond quickly and effectively.”

The ceremony was attended by Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar, senior representatives of Unicef, Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Asian Development Bank (ADB), British Council and Japan International Cooperation Agency along with officials of the school education and literacy department (SELD), education experts and development partners.

The CM emphasised that the SAMRS had already gone live in 600 schools across 12 districts with expansion in progress in four more districts through a Unicef-supported initiative. He stated that the system was designed not only to track absenteeism but also to predict dropout risks, suggest interventions and enhance overall school management.

“SAMRS is a model that Pakistan can follow,” he said. “We are institutionalising it through a new policy that ensures long-term sustainability, ownership, and integration with Sindh’s education governance framework.”

He expressed gratitude to the World Bank, GPE and all development partners for their “trust, technical guidance, and unwavering support” in strengthening public education in Sindh. Murad highlighted the importance of linking education with health, nutrition and child protection, urging partners to explore the integration of the SAMRS with child immunisation programmes, health screenings and social safety systems.

“Schools must be more than classrooms,” he said. “They must become centres of child well-being and community trust.” In his address, the Sindh education minister called the SAMRS a game-changer that constructed a digital ecosystem where attendance, performance and school infrastructure data came together to guide decisions.

“With support from NADRA, student identities are now shifting from system-generated IDs to verified B-Form numbers - ensuring every child in Sindh is counted and supported,” he said. Sardar noted that 99 per cent of the schools using the SAMRS reported attendance, and 92 per cent implemented redress procedures to reduce dropouts. The World Bank country director stated that the SAMRS was not a donor-driven project and it was planned by the Sindh government.

The CM also highlighted the broader SELECT Project, funded by the World Bank and GPE, focusing on improving early-grade literacy, transforming teaching practices, developing climate-resilient school infrastructure, and increasing student retention through the SAMRS and capacity-building initiatives.

The $154.7 million programme covers 12 districts and aims to reduce learning poverty and promote school attendance, especially among girls. The government announced plans to expand the SAMRS province-wide via a structured training cascade beginning with master trainers and extending to cluster heads and all satellite schools. “This is how we turn innovation into a legacy,” the CM said.

“Our commitment to the children of Sindh is unwavering,” he said. “Every child deserves to be present, engaged, and thriving. This is the future we are building together.” The launch ceremony concluded with a renewed pledge by the provincial government, development partners and education stakeholders to strengthen education governance and deliver a modern, equitable and technology-driven school system across Sindh.