The students of Malda College will have to register their attendance through a biometric system.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the governing body of the college on Thursday.

Sauren Banerjee, president of the governing body, said the decision was aimed at curbing the trend of absenteeism among a section of students.

“It has been resolved that from now on, students of the college will have to register their presence in the college through a biometric system. The new attendance system will come into force with the commencement of the new academic year,” Banerjee, who is also the vice-chancellor of the West Bengal State University, said.

Sources said the decision was taken within 48 hours of the publication of results of the first semester exams of the undergraduate course under the Gour Banga University.

Around 97 per cent of 37,748 examinees could not pass in most of the seven papers of three subjects (one major and two minor subjects).

Academicians and authorities of the varsity found that most of the students who wrote the papers were irregular in classes.

Biswajit Das, who holds the additional charge of the registrar of the varsity, said the decision would increase students’ attendance.

“For all the colleges under the varsity, it might not be possible to implement the same system. But we all have to take some steps so that students feel interested in attending the classes,” said Das.

The varsity, sources said, has also decided to constitute a committee that would find the causes behind such poor performance by students of the colleges affiliated to it.