Punjab rolls out attendance tracking system with SMS alerts for parents

Punjab has introduced a state-wide attendance tracking system that will send daily SMS alerts to parents about their children’s school attendance, marking a new phase under Mission Samrath 4.0 to strengthen monitoring in government schools.

The rollout, announced on April 9, is part of the state’s flagship foundational learning program aimed at improving accountability and student engagement. Officials said the system is designed to ensure regular attendance while keeping parents informed in real time.

Declaring it as the next big leap in the state's sikhya kranti, education minister Harjot Singh Bains said that Punjab has already ranked number one in the PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) survey and is now moving from recognition to results by tightening classroom accountability and scaling proven teaching practices.

“The education budget has been raised to ₹19,279 crore, ensuring funds reach classrooms rather than remain stuck in files, driving visible transformation from basic infrastructure to measurable learning outcomes across government schools,” Bains said.

“Parents will receive daily SMS alerts on their child’s attendance, with notifications for every absence, aiming to boost regular attendance, learning continuity, and classroom engagement. Any child absent for seven days will trigger a district-level parent contact, while absence beyond 15 days will be flagged to state headquarters. This will ensure both learning continuity and child safety,” he added.

Explaining the core focus of the program, Bains said it will ensure that children in grades 3 to 8 master reading, writing, and mathematics.

AAP Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia said, “With Mission Samrath 4.0, the state ensures every child is in school every day and learning well.”