Computer Program to Nail Truant Teachers

Monday, 03 December 2007
By Kholood F. Al-Rhamah

A computer program has entered the education system to expose and discipline truant teachers. Introduced by Jeddah Education Department's North Supervision Center, the program, called Al-Shamel, has the broader purpose of collecting and analyzing all school data, including attendance of students as well, said Khaled Al-Harthy who heads the center.

For supervisors, the program generates attendance and success-rate reports on each teacher.
"It automatically calculates the percentage of a teacher's absence with or without an excuse," said Al-Harthy.

Errant teachers are subject to questioning by the school principal and those with no medical or other valid reason for absenteeism, could get a pay cut.

Professionals like Waleed Mohammed, an intermediate school English teacher, support the idea.
"Teaching is a very noble career," he said. "People put their children in a teacher's hands and he should be up to the task.

"When the teacher doesn't show up it is a waste of the student's time, which should be valued and made fruitful."