With the deadline for obtaining APAAR IDs just two days away, schools and parents in Mumbai are feeling the pressure to ensure all students are registered. Currently, only 35 per cent of students have received their IDs, leaving a significant number still pending.
To address this issue, the state education department and the State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan have instructed schools to prioritize registration in the next two days. The Union government had initially set a deadline of November 30 for all students to receive their IDs, but as of November 25, only 65 lakh students out of the total have been issued IDs.
To speed up the process, November 29 and 30 have been designated as APAAR ID Days, during which schools are expected to focus on registering as many students as possible. Schools are working closely with municipal officers, block education officers, cluster heads, and education inspectors to ensure a smooth registration process. District-level online review meetings will also be conducted to monitor progress and provide guidance.
Despite the efforts being made by schools, some parents still have concerns about the APAAR ID concept. Prasad Gokhale, a parent from Borivli, expressed uncertainty about the purpose of the ID and raised issues regarding data privacy. Other parents have also raised concerns about the collection and verification of data, especially given the large number of students involved.
Schools are working hard to address these concerns and encourage parents to provide consent for data sharing. The registration process involves verifying demographic details, securing parental consent, authenticating identities, and generating APAAR IDs linked to DigiLocker.
Overall, the push to obtain APAAR IDs highlights the importance of tracking students’ academic journeys and ensuring consistency in monitoring educational progress. While challenges remain, both schools and parents are working together to meet the upcoming deadline and ensure all students are registered.
