Naga Students’ Federation says no to implementation of APAAR in Nagaland

DIMAPUR — The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has opposed the implementation of the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) in Nagaland and urged the School Education department to postpone its introduction.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of the state, two weeks after issuing a statement objecting to the move of the Centre, the NSF on Wednesday reiterated its stand on the APAAR, also referred to as ‘One Student, one ID’, citing concerns including students’ rights and privacy.

Raising objection to a recent move by the department of School Education regarding the exercise of APAAR in the state, it stated that the initiative “raises substantial challenges and concerns that poses unprecedented threat to the rights and privacy of students while also adding unnecessary burden to educational institutions in our state”.

‘APAAR, as proposed by the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), seeks to assign a unique identification number to every student from pre-primary to higher education, in addition to their existing Aadhaar ID. Although the government presents this initiative as a solution for seamless tracking of academic progress and achievements, several significant concerns have come to light,’ read the letter.

Among others, the NSF claimed that there are persistent concerns related to data security and privacy breaches associated with the Aadhaar card, which have not been adequately addressed. In a time when data breaches are becoming increasingly common, the addition of another layer of data collection and storage without comprehensive security measures is indeed worrisome, it said.

It also pointed out that educational institutions are already grappling with administrative burden, including the optional Aadhaar verification of students. “The introduction of the APAAR registry would only exacerbate the workload of teaching faculty and staff, potentially impacting the quality of education,” it added.

The student body also underscored that the consent of parents for APAAR enrolment is insufficient to safeguard the rights and privacy of students.

‘The government’s assurance that data will be shared only with relevant government agencies, although stated, remains highly questionable and does not eliminate the possibility of misuse or data breaches. The proposed District Information for Education portal could also become a potential target for cyberattacks, endangering the personal information of students,’ it stated.

Calling for a comprehensive reconsideration of the APAAR initiative before any exercise is undertaken in Nagaland, the NSF urged the state government and the department concerned to call for a wider and comprehensive consultation with all stakeholders. It strongly advocated for prioritising data security, promptly resolving administrative issues, and fostering an inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders, including parents, students, and educational institutions.

 “We believe that a consultative and collaborative approach is crucial to ensure the well-being of our students and to maintain the integrity of the education system in Nagaland,” it said, while urging the department to keep the exercise in abeyance till broader consultations are held.

Further, the student body reminded all the educational institutions that this exercise is not mandatory and, therefore, should not be enforced upon the students and the parents.

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