Tamil Nadu's Education Management Information System (EMIS) faces several challenges, primarily related to data collection and technical issues. Teachers in government and government-aided schools report that the system's demands for data entry, including student and teacher information, leave them with less time for teaching. Server issues and the need to use personal mobile phones for OTP verification also contribute to delays and inefficiencies.
Here's a breakdown of the key issues:
1. Data Entry Burden:
- Teachers are required to enter a significant amount of data into EMIS, including student details, attendance, and other information, which can take up a considerable portion of their time, impacting teaching.
- The focus on EMIS data entry can pull teachers away from their primary responsibility of teaching and student engagement.
- Teachers are often expected to produce good academic results while simultaneously managing the EMIS workload, creating a challenging situation, according to a dtnext article.
2. Technical Issues and Server Problems:
- Simultaneous access by many schools leads to server issues and delays, especially when uploading data, according to teachers in a dtnext article.
- Parents are hesitant to share OTPs due to concerns about security, and frequent technical issues with the portal necessitate repeated OTP requests, causing delays.
- A significant number of parent phone numbers in the current database are incorrect, hindering communication and data collection.
3. Solutions and Suggestions:
- Teachers have suggested that dedicated staff be appointed for EMIS data entry, freeing up teachers to focus on teaching, says a report in dtnext.
- The School Education Department is considering outsourcing EMIS data entry work from the next academic year, according to a dtnext article.
- Some teachers suggest that school management committees or PTAs appoint clerks to handle the EMIS workload.
- Establishing better communication channels to address parent concerns about OTP collection is crucial.
- Collecting accurate parent phone numbers during PT meetings or having students verify information can help improve data accuracy.
4. EMIS Benefits:
- EMIS can help educators identify struggling students and areas needing support.
- A well-functioning EMIS can lead to more efficient management of student records and data.
- EMIS can be used to expedite scholarship disbursal by verifying student eligibility.