Biometric System Applicability on Teaching Staffs Attendance Management in Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania

Abstract

Workplace attendance management is widely a challenge in developing countries like Tanzania. Public employee in Tanzania works under regular working hours from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. as stipulated by various laws, including the Employment and Labour Relation Act (ELRA) of 2003, the Public service act of 2019, and the Standing order for public service of 2009. Some public employees who work on shift bases are not required to attend work early in the morning like other routine workers. Some of these professionals include nurses, and doctors, who work under shifts. Introducing and using digitalised technology, such as biometric fingerprint attendance devices, is believed to present a significant opportunity for enhancing employee attendance. However, its applicability is yet to be known to those employees who work on a shift basis and field work as per the standing order for public service of 2009 and other laws. The difference in reporting time among public employees leads to the need for understanding the applicability of biometric attendance registers to manage academic staff attendance in higher learning Institutions in Tanzania, whose core functions are controlled by class attendance journals. This study draws experience from high learning institutions in Tanzania to ascertain the applicability of biometric systems in addressing academic staff attendance management and attendance problems. The study employed an interpretivism research paradigm that allows the study to use a qualitative approach following an exploratory case study design. Thematic analysis was used to identify, analyse, interpret, and report every day of data collection through key informant interviews and in-depth interviews. Head of department and HR documents were also subjected to content analysis. The findings unveil challenges that blur the reality that academic staff, unlike administrative staff, do not abide by the use of biometric attendance regulation placed at the main entrance as they have other mechanisms such as class attendance and class journal left with class representatives. With biometric system, academic staff can still falsify their workplace performance. Moreover, those who work extra time till early night cannot abide by the use of a biometric system termed to sign in and out like any other non-academic staff; otherwise will be against the law that requires them to work 9hrs a day as they sometimes work beyond nine houses a day. The study recommends taking into account the character and operational performance of academic staff at Tanzania’s higher-learning institutions when designing and using digital technologies to manage academic staff attendance. Special biometric machines should be installed in classes and programmed so that academicians will sign in and out when attending classes. Their attendance should be monitored by class representatives and students based on the session they have as agreed upon by higher learning in Tanzania on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.