The days of teachers running through a register to check that students are in attendance may be nearing an end thanks to new technology.

Two schools in the country have begun trialling face-recognition software to keep tabs on their pupils, with others set to follow suit in September, the Irish Independent reports.

Students arriving at Templeogue College in Dublin and Ardscoil Ris in Limerick look at a wall-mounted device and in seconds are identified and registered as in attendance.

Templeogue principal Aoife O'Donnell said the new technology is an accurate and efficient way of replacing roll calls and had opted for the system ahead of alternatives such as swipe cards, which could be worked around by students getting their friends to sign them in.

"Within five minutes of school starting, we know exactly who is in the building and if students come in late, it will show up," Ms O'Donnell said, adding parents had generally been supportive.

Last month, the Teachers Union of Ireland stated many children may be in danger of dropping out of school due to a ban on filling posts of responsibility if there is no-one left to help students with problems, the Independent reported.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

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