School students in state to get UID

The government has decided to issue unique ID numbers to students from class I to X to track their academic progress, check drop-outs and misuse of benefits. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri told reporters here each student would be given a 16-digit number. The move would check misuse of government schemes such as distribution of free textbooks, uniforms, bicycles and scholarships.

He said the Finance Department has given its nod to fill 4,000 teachers’ vacancies (of the total 12,000) in government primary schools.