Makerere University has launched a digital system that will enable it effectively monitor attendance of staff and students in order to limit the vice of dodging classes.
The two systems the Biometric access and Student Attendance Management System (SAMS) were launched on Friday, May 3rd, 2024 by the university’s vice chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe and chairperson Makerere University council Mrs. Lorna Magara.
VC Nawangwe said Makerere University management is hoping to have the whole institution digitised by the end of the year.
“By the end of this year everything should be digitised. We should be able to know what is happening in the university. We must run our university digitally and the best way is going digital in everything we do,” he said.
According to Makerere University acting Human resource manager Mr. Mujuni Deus, there has been a query of audit reports over the institution’s failure to account for staff attendance. He is optimistic that the attendance system will have this issue addressed.
The 90th guild president, represented by the minister of information Emojong Kisaija, said the students leadership will work together with management to ensure the attendance system is embraced by students.
Emojong noted that the system will enable students digitally record their attendance and that it doesn’t let one register for another.
“The SAMS (Student Attendance Management System) will enable students to digitally record their attendance in class. DICTS has assured me as the ICT Minister, that the system does not permit a student to register attendance on behalf of another student,” he said.
He added that the system will ensure students adhere to the university policy of attending at least 70% of lectures.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, chair Makerere University council thanked the developers of the attendance system and urged them to continuously share feedback from users for future improvements.
“I call upon the Directorate of Human Resources, as well as other units, to continuously share the feedback from the system’s users with DICTS so that we can further refine and improve its use,” she said.
Resistance
Some members of Makerere University academic staff had earlier rejected the digital attendance system that was being imposed on them by management.
During an Emergency General Assembly held on October 20, 2023, by the lecturers under joint body, Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA), they unanimously agreed to reject the system.
However, Mrs. Magara says the system serves core functions critical to any organisation such as performance management and accountability
“I acknowledge that the journey towards developing and rolling out our biometric system has encountered some contestation, particularly from sections of our stakeholders—especially the staff,” she said.
Adding, ‘Some colleagues have expressed concerns that attendance monitoring could become a policing tool. Today, I aim to address these concerns and assure you that the system we launch today serves core functions critical to any organization: performance management and accountability.’
Students will use sams.mak.ac.ug to register their attendance. On the system, they will also be able to report lecturers that dodge classes.
The attendance systems were developed by the Directorate of Information Research and Technology (DICTS).
Whereas the students leadership has committed itself to support the system, the academic staff has not yet publicly declared its position.
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