Consistent attendance of learners is considered a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for improved learning outcomes. This necessary condition is often not met in LMIC contexts with absenteeism ranging from 5% in Morocco to 56% in Mozambique. Attendance data is often only available in school registers that are not digitised and is only accessible to school teachers and headteachers on a day-to-day basis.
However, SMS can be used to develop a near-real-time student attendance monitoring system. Drawing from Street Child’s experience in Sierra Leone and South Sudan, the author of this blog has explored the use of no-cost and low-cost alternatives to develop a near-real-time student attendance monitoring system. It also uses SMS as a medium to provide tailored attendance information at school, class and learner level to headteachers, teachers and guardians.