NATIONAL NEWS
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday unveiled the Student Attendance Monitoring and Redress System (SAMRS), a technology-driven platform designed to modernise the province’s oversight of public schools.
Speaking at the launch event in Karachi, Shah said the system represents a significant milestone for Pakistan’s education sector, as it is the first digital framework in any province that links student attendance with school facilities, teacher performance, and academic progress. The CM noted that this data will help the government identify problems more accurately and take timely action where needed.
The ceremony was attended by Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar, and representatives from Unicef, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the British Council, and JICA, along with officials from Sindh’s School Education and Literacy Department (SELD).
According to the chief minister, SAMRS has already been introduced in 600 schools across 12 districts. With support from Unicef, the system will soon be expanded to four more districts. Beyond tracking attendance, the platform is designed to predict potential dropouts, recommend interventions, and streamline school management.
Shah also announced that the provincial government is formalising the system through a policy framework to ensure its long-term sustainability. He expressed gratitude to the World Bank, GPE, and other development partners for backing the initiative, and acknowledged the contributions of SELD, the Reform Support Unit, and the SELECT Project team.
He added that SAMRS has the potential to integrate with services related to health, nutrition, and child protection — such as vaccination programs and health screenings — to better support students.
Education Minister Sardar Shah called the system a “transformative step,” saying it brings together data on attendance, infrastructure, and performance into a single dashboard for informed decision-making. With Nadra’s cooperation, student records are being linked to verified B-Form numbers, ensuring accurate identification of every enrolled child.
He noted that 99% of the schools using the platform have successfully reported attendance, while 92% have taken necessary corrective measures — signs, he said, of meaningful progress in reducing dropout rates.
World Bank’s Bolormaa Amgaabazar commended the provincial government for designing and implementing the system itself, calling it a clear demonstration of Sindh’s commitment to improving public education.
