The advancement of technology, particularly Blockchain and Smart contract, has brought about ease in accessing individual information. In the context of education, these technologies offer numerous advantages. Personal data, such as academic records, achievements, and certificates, can be accessed faster and more conveniently due to the implementation of these advanced technologies.
Blockchain and Smart Contracts facilitate quick and reliable verification processes, significantly contributing to the efficiency and reliability of storing and managing educational information.
Data accuracy is a crucial aspect of the verification system, and Blockchain technology excels in this area. The data stored in the Blockchain is guaranteed to be authentic, and the transparency of verification conducted through Blockchain instills confidence in users, as they can access complete data with the specified access rights.
However, amidst the benefits brought by these technologies, a significant question remains: Will they replace the existing conventional education verification systems?
Conditions to be fulfilled
To address this question, it is essential to understand the challenges that accompany the implementation of Blockchain technology. Here are some crucial aspects to consider:
- Necessity of Establishing a Comprehensive System on a Mass Scale: The success of Blockchain-based education verification systems heavily relies on widespread adoption by educational institutions and relevant organizations. If only a limited number of institutions are involved, the benefits may be restricted, and the system may not reach its full potential. Unfortunately, at present, especially in Indonesia, the implementation of this technology is still challenging due to various interests, inconsistent regulations, varying standards, and other constraints.
- Requirement for Cutting-Edge Technology Infrastructure: The success of Blockchain-based education verification systems heavily relies on widespread adoption by educational institutions and relevant organizations. If only a limited number of institutions are involved, the benefits may be restricted, and the system may not reach its full potential. With uneven technology infrastructure, especially in remote areas that lack access to modern technologies, such as internet connectivity, implementing Blockchain-based verification becomes challenging.
- Lack of Expertise: As a new technology, Blockchain requires specialized skills to operate. Its complexity means that only well-trained experts can effectively implement it.
- Threat of Blockchain Forks: The threat of forks in the Blockchain can lead to data separation and the emergence of two or more different Blockchain versions, causing confusion in certificate verification and creating problems in a system that should be decentralized.
Considering these challenges, it is important to recognize that Blockchain and Smart Contracts are still evolving technologies, and the role of humans remains crucial, especially in the education verification process.
Conventional education verification
The implementation of conventional education verification still holds a significant role in maintaining document authenticity.
Manual verification processes enable authorized parties to conduct in-depth analyses of each detail in academic certificates. For instance, platforms like Education-Verification utilize double-authentication systems, where verification is performed by academic staff and confirmed by supervisors. This promotes a check-and-balance procedure, ensuring that all verification results are accountable and accurate.
Another advantage of conventional verification is the ability to avoid algorithmic bias. Automated systems are susceptible to bias based on training data or predefined rules.
In conclusion, the presence of Blockchain and Smart Contract technologies presents both challenges and opportunities for the existing education verification systems. Conventional education verification systems remain relevant and can fill the gap when Blockchain systems cannot be implemented due to societal limitations.