For many in the community, the letters became a symbol of how easily technology can misfire when basic upkeep falls through. The district education officer of Rewa, Ram Raj Mishra, admitted the lapse but placed responsibility on school authorities.

“The letters were issued based on the data of teachers secured from the special portal containing the details of teachers. The lapse occurred because the data on the concerned portal wasn’t updated by the principals of the concerned schools through the BEOs. Such cases are very few, and the process has been initiated for updating the records on the concerned portal,” he said.

Meanwhile, the department continues to issue stern warnings to teachers, who fail to mark their attendance, giving them three days to explain themselves. The incident has made one thing clear: in its rush to enforce accountability, administration forgot to put its own house in order.

Dept yet to get its own house in order

The department continues to issue stern warnings to teachers who fail to mark their attendance, giving them three days to explain themselves. The incident has made one thing clear: in its rush to enforce accountability, administration forgot to put its own house—and its digital records—in order