GUARDIANS and parents of students studying at Sta. Ana National High School (SANHS) will now be able to monitor their children remotely after the school deployed a new digital monitoring device.

The SANHS is the first public school in Davao Region to employ the digital monitoring system that informs guardians through text messages if their children have entered or exited the school premises.

SANHS grade 10 campus head Arniel Real said the system was implemented two weeks ago to grade 7 students, and will be fully implemented to all high school students, including senior high, this week.

Real said more than 9,000 students will be monitored wherein they will be swiping their identification card (ID) while entering and leaving the campus premises. After swiping their IDs, a notification will appear on the monitor and at the same time a text message will be sent to the parents and guardians.

“Maayo ang objective sa ID system. Tungod ani, mas ma-monitor pud namo (sa eskwelahan) ug sa ginikanan ang attendance sa mga bata. Kung dili mag swipe ang bata sa iyang ID, buot pasabot ana wala misulod ang bata sa iyang klase (The objective of the ID system is good. At least, the school and the parents would be able to monitor the attendance of their children. If the student will not swipe their ID, it means they did not went to their respective classes),” Real told SunStar Davao in a phone interview on Monday, September 23.

He said parents could also print the monthly attendance monitoring of their students, which will indicate their absences and tardiness. He added it would be useful for teachers who are keeping track of their student’s attendance.

Real said the ID system was first introduced by the Bicol Region delegates for the Palarong Pambansa last April this year, where SANHS was their billeting headquarters.

“Our school principal had communicated with the (DepEd Bicol) regional director, and was introduced to the system,” Real said.

The school purchased the machine and the maintenance of its operation is charged to each student for P200 -- P150 for the ID and P50 for the system. The P200 fee is a one-time payment for the students until they graduate or leave the school.

Prior to its implementation, Real said the parents were made aware of the proposed ID system during a symposium, which received favorable feedback, adding that the students were “very excited” for it.

The school official said it is still 80-percent fully-operational because some students have yet to receive their ID, which includes slings and jacket.

But he said the system was “smooth sailing” and had not encountered any problems.

He said, through this, they could prevent unnecessary absences and students cutting classes.