The November 30 deadline for submitting APAAR forms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has left many parents uneasy. The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) is a unique lifelong identification system aimed at tracking students’ academic journeys, from pre-primary to higher education, and storing records of learning outcomes, extracurricular achievements, and skills.
Despite its potential benefits, the system has sparked significant concerns among parents about data privacy and transparency.
What is APAAR?
- Purpose: Unlike Aadhaar, APAAR is focused exclusively on education, serving as an “edulocker” for academic data.
- Scope: It tracks academic records, extracurricular activities, and skills throughout a student’s educational life.
- Goal: To address issues such as student dropouts and ensure consistent monitoring of educational progress.
Parental Concerns
Parents have raised questions about the necessity of APAAR and the safety of the personal data it collects:
- Lack of Clarity: Neha Shingale, a Dadar West resident, criticized the rushed implementation, saying, “There is no clarity on what it actually is or how our data will be used.”
- Privacy Issues: Mihir Sharma, a Bandra East resident, expressed fears about the potential misuse of student data by private companies.
- Data Protection: Many parents, like Mihir Tambe, have voiced concerns about possible data breaches, demanding assurance from authorities.
Schools Under Pressure
The responsibility of obtaining parental consent has fallen on schools, leading to additional challenges:
- Tight Deadlines: Schools were given limited time to secure consent, creating tensions between administrators and parents.
- Accountability Issues: A principal from a reputed BKC school stated, “The onus lies on us to explain and ensure compliance, but the decision ultimately rests with the parents.”
APAAR Registration Process
- Verification: Parents visit schools to confirm demographic details.
- Consent: Schools secure parental consent for minors.
- Authentication: Schools verify identity details.
- ID Creation: APAAR ID is generated and linked to DigiLocker.
Moving Forward
While APAAR has the potential to revolutionize the education system by ensuring consistency in monitoring students’ progress, parents demand greater transparency and stronger data safeguards. With the deadline now past, further clarification and communication from government authorities could help address these concerns and build trust in the system.
