Assessing the Value of a Computerised Biometric System for Screening Examination and Checking Attendance of Students in a University Environment: A Case of Pentecost University College

Checking students for examination and attendance in a university environment is too cumbersome as a result of the increasing number of students. Private institutions especially are faced with problems of attaining accurate records of students’ attendance which normally involves circulating papers for students to sign in and sign out by registering their names on paper during examinations and this has proved to be stressful, time consuming, unreliable, inaccurate and inefficient. 

The study therefore sought to assess the areas that universities are using biometric control systems. It also assessed some of the challenges the schools face in adopting biometric system of control and quantitative approach was adopted for the study. The population of the study was staff members of Pentecost University College of which a sample size of fifty (50) respondents were chosen. Microsoft excel was used in analysing and presenting the data gathered.

 The responses revealed that student’s elections and staff attendance were identified as the key areas that the selected institution (Pentecost University College) has employed and implemented computerised biometric control systems. The results also show that power outage, slow detection of fingerprints, and overcrowding around the machine were classified as challenges posed by the biometric system.

 Although the value of computerized biometric control system was popular at present, this was consistent with the recognition that biometric innovation progresses as combined with vast diminishment in cost to make biometrics promptly useful and reasonable to all organisations. The study therefore recommend that the use of invertors or generator is installed to ensure a continuous supply of power to the system as well as faster machines are installed while malfunctioning are repaired as quickly as possible to preserve precious time.