BOU to introduce E-attendance system to prevent impersonation in exams

Bangladesh Open University (BOU) is set to introduce a mobile-based e-attendance system in its examinations to prevent impersonation and curb various forms of irregularities.

The system will enable the university to centrally record and verify candidates’ attendance and absence data quickly and accurately. It will also help prevent problems such as candidates being marked absent despite attending examinations.

A day-long master trainer development and practical training workshop titled “Strengthening Examination Management through Mobile-Based E-Attendance” was held on Thursday (August 27) at BOU’s E-Learning Centre. The workshop was organised by the university’s Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC).

BOU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan attended the workshop as the chief guest.

Speaking at the event, the vice-chancellor said examination management is a major challenge for BOU and that efforts are underway to bring the examination department under an automated management system.

“As part of this initiative, mobile-based e-attendance has been introduced,” he said.

He added that not only e-attendance but also various activities of the examination department "including result preparation and publication, examination administration and complaint management "are gradually being brought under automated systems.

The university is also implementing various technology-based initiatives to make student services easier and faster, he said.

Calling on all concerned to work together to make BOU’s examination management more transparent, accurate and modern through the optimal use of technology, the vice-chancellor said master trainers would play an important role in successfully implementing the e-attendance system at examination centres across the country.

Professor Dr Mohammad Zahir Raihan, director of BOU’s Institutional Quality Assurance Cell, chaired the workshop.

BOU Acting Controller of Examinations Md Habibullah Mahmud attended the event as a special guest.

-HIS