Why the 75% Attendance Rule in Colleges is a Missed Opportunity for Real Learning

It’s been over a month since I joined as an assistant professor. In the beginning, I was full of optimism, ready to bring change to the traditional Indian teaching methods. I envisioned transforming monotonous lectures into dynamic, interactive sessions where students and professors engage in meaningful dialogue. I imagined replacing the tedious blackboard teaching with engaging PowerPoint presentations and videos. I even thought I could be the “cool” professor—who isn’t as strict and treats students more like friends. But now, just a month in, I am becoming part of the system I wanted to change.

I’m caught in the same routine—taking attendance and assigning written tasks that I know won’t benefit the students in the long run or the next semester. I spend two hours commuting every day eight hours at college, and then, when I finally get home, I’m back on my laptop, entering attendance data or marking assignments that have piled up in a corner of my office. And the question that keeps coming to my mind is: Does any of this serve the true purpose of education? I don’t think so.

To me, it feels like a sheer waste of human potential—time that could be better spent elsewhere. As a researcher, I could have used those hours to work on a research paper or maybe something productive or simply had some quality time with my family. This is precisely why the Indian education system has lost much of its appeal and credibility. Instead of exploring new teaching techniques and methodologies, educational institutions remain stuck in outdated practices: maintaining attendance registers, correcting files, marking attendance (offline and online), and ensuring students meet the mandatory 75% attendance requirement. This requirement has, for many, become the primary reason to attend lectures—not a love of learning, not intellectual curiosity, but a bureaucratic hoop to jump through.

This system also stifles professors who want to offer something more substantial. We’re bogged down with administrative tasks like marking attendance, keeping registers up to date, and getting them signed on time. These are burdens that take away from our ability to innovate in the classroom and engage with students in meaningful ways.

I believe it’s high time educational institutions reconsidered their approach. Rather than clinging to outdated methods for assignments and attendance, they should aim to be changemakers—facilitating an environment that fosters holistic development for both students and teachers. By moving away from these rigid, traditional practices and adopting more modern, effective methodologies, we can cultivate a more engaging and enriching educational experience. This shift would not only benefit students by making them more skilled and prepared for the future, but it would also enhance the productivity and satisfaction of professors who are passionate about teaching.

The focus should be on nurturing curiosity, encouraging critical thinking, and equipping students with the skills they need to thrive—not just in exams, but in life. Only then can we hope to bring back the lost charm and credibility of our education system.