Scanner fingers students

Thai masters students are giving the thumbs-down to lectures before they even begin, thanks to the introduction of fingerprint scanners.

Thai universities are much stricter than British ones when it comes to students attending lectures, and the scanners help the Ramkamhaeng University to keep an eye on attendance records.

Some 7,000 masters students at the Bangkok-based university's 14 provincial campuses have their scans taken at the lecture room door, where they are cross-checked with their ID smart cards.

Rangsan Saensook, rector of Ramkamhaeng University, said the scanning system was quicker than taking roll-calls.

The scanners will also be introduced in examination halls to stop students taking exams for friends.

Ramkamhaeng has a reputation for being at the forefront when it comes to using technology.

Students can already check their exam results via pagers.