diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/tests.yml b/.gitea/workflows/tests.yml
index 128bac6..7079e28 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,12 @@ jobs:
     env:
       GIT_SSL_NO_VERIFY: 'true'
       CI_ENVIRONMENT: testing
-      database.tests.hostname: 127.0.0.1
+      TEST_DB_HOST: mysql
+      TEST_DB_PORT: 3306
+      TEST_DB_NAME: alrahma_test
+      TEST_DB_USER: alrahma
+      TEST_DB_PASSWORD: alrahma
+      database.tests.hostname: mysql
       database.tests.database: alrahma_test
       database.tests.username: alrahma
       database.tests.password: alrahma
@@ -75,8 +80,92 @@ jobs:
           touch writable/cache/testing/.ci-write-test
           rm writable/cache/testing/.ci-write-test
 
+      - name: Verify database configuration
+        run: |
+          php -d variables_order=EGPCS -r '
+            define("FCPATH", __DIR__ . "/public/");
+            define("ENVIRONMENT", getenv("CI_ENVIRONMENT") ?: "production");
+            require "app/Config/Paths.php";
+            $paths = new Config\Paths();
+            require $paths->systemDirectory . "/Boot.php";
+            CodeIgniter\Boot::bootConsole($paths);
+
+            $database = config("Database");
+            $dbConfig = $database->{$database->defaultGroup};
+
+            echo "Environment: " . ENVIRONMENT . PHP_EOL;
+            echo "DB group: " . $database->defaultGroup . PHP_EOL;
+            echo "DB host: " . $dbConfig["hostname"] . PHP_EOL;
+            echo "DB port: " . $dbConfig["port"] . PHP_EOL;
+            echo "DB name: " . $dbConfig["database"] . PHP_EOL;
+          '
+
+      - name: Wait for MariaDB
+        run: |
+          for attempt in $(seq 1 30); do
+            php -r '
+              mysqli_report(MYSQLI_REPORT_OFF);
+              $db = @new mysqli(
+                  getenv("TEST_DB_HOST"),
+                  getenv("TEST_DB_USER"),
+                  getenv("TEST_DB_PASSWORD"),
+                  getenv("TEST_DB_NAME"),
+                  (int) getenv("TEST_DB_PORT")
+              );
+
+              exit($db->connect_errno === 0 ? 0 : 1);
+            ' && break
+
+            echo "Waiting for MariaDB, attempt ${attempt}/30"
+            sleep 2
+          done
+
+          php -r '
+            mysqli_report(MYSQLI_REPORT_ERROR | MYSQLI_REPORT_STRICT);
+
+            new mysqli(
+                getenv("TEST_DB_HOST"),
+                getenv("TEST_DB_USER"),
+                getenv("TEST_DB_PASSWORD"),
+                getenv("TEST_DB_NAME"),
+                (int) getenv("TEST_DB_PORT")
+            );
+
+            echo "MariaDB connection successful\n";
+          '
+
+      - name: Import baseline schema
+        run: php tests/_support/import_baseline.php Database_Dump/u280815660_school_12072025
+
       - name: Run database migrations
-        run: php spark migrate --all --no-interaction
+        run: |
+          php -d variables_order=EGPCS spark migrate --all --no-interaction
+          php -r '
+            mysqli_report(MYSQLI_REPORT_ERROR | MYSQLI_REPORT_STRICT);
+
+            $db = new mysqli(
+                getenv("TEST_DB_HOST"),
+                getenv("TEST_DB_USER"),
+                getenv("TEST_DB_PASSWORD"),
+                getenv("TEST_DB_NAME"),
+                (int) getenv("TEST_DB_PORT")
+            );
+
+            $tables = [];
+            $result = $db->query("SHOW TABLES");
+            while ($row = $result->fetch_array(MYSQLI_NUM)) {
+                $tables[$row[0]] = true;
+            }
+
+            foreach (["users", "students", "attendance_data"] as $table) {
+                if (!isset($tables[$table])) {
+                    fwrite(STDERR, "Migration schema missing required table: {$table}\n");
+                    exit(1);
+                }
+            }
+
+            echo "Migration schema verified\n";
+          '
 
       - name: Run tests
         run: composer test
diff --git a/app/Config/Database.php b/app/Config/Database.php
index 0af3e90..b08ced0 100644
--- a/app/Config/Database.php
+++ b/app/Config/Database.php
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ class Database extends Config
     {
         parent::__construct();
 
+        if (ENVIRONMENT === 'testing') {
+            $this->defaultGroup = 'tests';
+        }
+
         $this->default = [
             'DSN'      => '',
             'hostname' => env('database.default.hostname'),
@@ -38,22 +42,22 @@ class Database extends Config
 
         $this->tests = [
             'DSN'      => '',
-            'hostname' => env('database.tests.hostname', env('database.default.hostname')),
-            'username' => env('database.tests.username', env('database.default.username')),
-            'password' => env('database.tests.password', env('database.default.password')),
-            'database' => env('database.tests.database', env('database.default.database')),
+            'hostname' => env('TEST_DB_HOST', env('database.tests.hostname', env('database.default.hostname'))),
+            'username' => env('TEST_DB_USER', env('database.tests.username', env('database.default.username'))),
+            'password' => env('TEST_DB_PASSWORD', env('database.tests.password', env('database.default.password'))),
+            'database' => env('TEST_DB_NAME', env('database.tests.database', env('database.default.database'))),
             'DBDriver' => env('database.tests.DBDriver', env('database.default.DBDriver', 'MySQLi')),
-            'DBPrefix' => env('database.tests.DBPrefix', 'db_'),
+            'DBPrefix' => env('database.tests.DBPrefix', ''),
             'pConnect' => false,
             'DBDebug'  => true,
-            'charset'  => 'utf8',
-            'DBCollat' => 'utf8_general_ci',
+            'charset'  => 'utf8mb4',
+            'DBCollat' => 'utf8mb4_general_ci',
             'swapPre'  => '',
             'encrypt'  => false,
             'compress' => false,
             'strictOn' => false,
             'failover' => [],
-            'port'     => (int) env('database.tests.port', env('database.default.port', 3306)),
+            'port'     => (int) env('TEST_DB_PORT', env('database.tests.port', env('database.default.port', 3306))),
         ];
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-05-215851_FixPrintRequestsForeignKey.php b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-05-215851_FixPrintRequestsForeignKey.php
index c27e93c..44dbc30 100644
--- a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-05-215851_FixPrintRequestsForeignKey.php
+++ b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-05-215851_FixPrintRequestsForeignKey.php
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ class FixPrintRequestsForeignKey extends Migration
         // Drop the old foreign key if it exists
         $this->forge->dropForeignKey('print_requests', 'print_requests_class_id_foreign');
 
+        if (! $this->db->tableExists('class_sections')) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         // Add the new foreign key
         $this->forge->addForeignKey('class_id', 'class_sections', 'id', 'CASCADE', 'CASCADE');
         
diff --git a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-06-195508_RevertPrintRequestsForeignKey.php b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-06-195508_RevertPrintRequestsForeignKey.php
index 9b0770f..fd73e11 100644
--- a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-06-195508_RevertPrintRequestsForeignKey.php
+++ b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-06-195508_RevertPrintRequestsForeignKey.php
@@ -9,7 +9,14 @@ class RevertPrintRequestsForeignKey extends Migration
     public function up()
     {
         // Drop the old foreign key if it exists
-        $this->forge->dropForeignKey('print_requests', 'print_requests_class_id_foreign');
+        $db = \Config\Database::connect();
+        $keys = $db->getForeignKeyData('print_requests');
+        foreach ($keys as $key) {
+            if ($key->constraint_name === 'print_requests_class_id_foreign') {
+                $this->forge->dropForeignKey('print_requests', 'print_requests_class_id_foreign');
+                break;
+            }
+        }
 
         // Add the new foreign key
         $this->forge->addForeignKey('class_id', 'classes', 'id', 'CASCADE', 'CASCADE');
diff --git a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-06-205621_FixPrintRequestsForeignKeyAgain.php b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-06-205621_FixPrintRequestsForeignKeyAgain.php
index 41d223c..6469c2b 100644
--- a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-06-205621_FixPrintRequestsForeignKeyAgain.php
+++ b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-06-205621_FixPrintRequestsForeignKeyAgain.php
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ class FixPrintRequestsForeignKeyAgain extends Migration
         $keys = $db->getForeignKeyData('print_requests');
         foreach ($keys as $key) {
             if ($key->constraint_name === 'print_requests_class_id_foreign') {
-                $this->forge->dropForeignKey('print_requests', 'print_requests_class_id_foreign');
-                break;
+                return;
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-25-000000_RemoveClassAssignmentSemester.php b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-25-000000_RemoveClassAssignmentSemester.php
index de8ff5b..9cc8fa3 100644
--- a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-25-000000_RemoveClassAssignmentSemester.php
+++ b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-25-000000_RemoveClassAssignmentSemester.php
@@ -8,10 +8,18 @@ class RemoveClassAssignmentSemester extends Migration
 {
     public function up()
     {
-        if ($this->db->tableExists('teacher_class')) {
+        if ($this->db->tableExists('teacher_class') && $this->db->fieldExists('semester', 'teacher_class')) {
+            if ($this->indexExists('teacher_class', 'unique_teacher_assignment')) {
+                $this->db->query('ALTER TABLE `teacher_class` DROP INDEX `unique_teacher_assignment`');
+            }
+
             $this->forge->dropColumn('teacher_class', 'semester');
+
+            $this->db->query(
+                'ALTER TABLE `teacher_class` ADD UNIQUE KEY `unique_teacher_assignment` (`teacher_id`, `class_section_id`, `school_year`)'
+            );
         }
-        if ($this->db->tableExists('student_class')) {
+        if ($this->db->tableExists('student_class') && $this->db->fieldExists('semester', 'student_class')) {
             $this->forge->dropColumn('student_class', 'semester');
         }
     }
@@ -39,4 +47,13 @@ class RemoveClassAssignmentSemester extends Migration
             ]);
         }
     }
+
+    private function indexExists(string $table, string $index): bool
+    {
+        $result = $this->db->query(
+            'SHOW INDEX FROM `' . str_replace('`', '``', $table) . '` WHERE Key_name = ' . $this->db->escape($index)
+        );
+
+        return $result->getNumRows() > 0;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-26-000100_CreateTeacherSubmissionNotificationHistory.php b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-26-000100_CreateTeacherSubmissionNotificationHistory.php
index 0b4faa1..eef2e87 100644
--- a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-26-000100_CreateTeacherSubmissionNotificationHistory.php
+++ b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-26-000100_CreateTeacherSubmissionNotificationHistory.php
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 namespace App\Database\Migrations;
 
 use CodeIgniter\Database\Migration;
+use CodeIgniter\Database\RawSql;
 
 class CreateTeacherSubmissionNotificationHistory extends Migration
 {
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ class CreateTeacherSubmissionNotificationHistory extends Migration
             'sent_at' => [
                 'type' => 'DATETIME',
                 'null' => false,
-                'default' => 'CURRENT_TIMESTAMP',
+                'default' => new RawSql('CURRENT_TIMESTAMP'),
             ],
         ]);
 
diff --git a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-27-130500_CreateExamDraftSubmissions.php b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-27-130500_CreateExamDraftSubmissions.php
index 700d5b0..9039c57 100644
--- a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-27-130500_CreateExamDraftSubmissions.php
+++ b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-01-27-130500_CreateExamDraftSubmissions.php
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 namespace App\Database\Migrations;
 
 use CodeIgniter\Database\Migration;
+use CodeIgniter\Database\RawSql;
 
 class CreateExamDraftSubmissions extends Migration
 {
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ class CreateExamDraftSubmissions extends Migration
             'created_at' => [
                 'type'     => 'DATETIME',
                 'null'     => false,
-                'default'  => 'CURRENT_TIMESTAMP',
+                'default'  => new RawSql('CURRENT_TIMESTAMP'),
             ],
             'updated_at' => [
                 'type' => 'DATETIME',
diff --git a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-04-000400_CreatePlacementLevels.php b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-04-000400_CreatePlacementLevels.php
index a04d3f2..00ab54c 100644
--- a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-04-000400_CreatePlacementLevels.php
+++ b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-04-000400_CreatePlacementLevels.php
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class CreatePlacementLevels extends Migration
         ]);
 
         $this->forge->addKey('id', true);
-        $this->forge->addKey(['student_id', 'school_year'], true);
+        $this->forge->addUniqueKey(['student_id', 'school_year'], 'unique_student_school_year');
         $this->forge->addKey('school_year');
         $this->forge->createTable('placement_levels');
     }
diff --git a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-04-000430_CreatePlacementScores.php b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-04-000430_CreatePlacementScores.php
index 50cf99a..6a63351 100644
--- a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-04-000430_CreatePlacementScores.php
+++ b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-04-000430_CreatePlacementScores.php
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class CreatePlacementScores extends Migration
         ]);
 
         $this->forge->addKey('id', true);
-        $this->forge->addKey(['batch_id', 'student_id'], true);
+        $this->forge->addUniqueKey(['batch_id', 'student_id'], 'unique_batch_student');
         $this->forge->addKey('batch_id');
         $this->forge->createTable('placement_scores');
     }
diff --git a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-05-000200_CreateMissingScoreOverrides.php b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-05-000200_CreateMissingScoreOverrides.php
index d5b6ede..f75f729 100644
--- a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-05-000200_CreateMissingScoreOverrides.php
+++ b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-05-000200_CreateMissingScoreOverrides.php
@@ -65,7 +65,10 @@ class CreateMissingScoreOverrides extends Migration
 
         $this->forge->addKey('id', true);
         $this->forge->addKey(['class_section_id', 'semester', 'school_year', 'item_type'], false, 'missing_score_overrides_scope');
-        $this->forge->addKey(['student_id', 'class_section_id', 'semester', 'school_year', 'item_type', 'item_index'], true, 'missing_score_overrides_unique');
+        $this->forge->addUniqueKey(
+            ['student_id', 'class_section_id', 'semester', 'school_year', 'item_type', 'item_index'],
+            'missing_score_overrides_unique'
+        );
         $this->forge->createTable('missing_score_overrides', true);
     }
 
diff --git a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-10-000100_AddStyleToPreferences.php b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-10-000100_AddStyleToPreferences.php
index be8f9bd..62bf605 100644
--- a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-10-000100_AddStyleToPreferences.php
+++ b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-02-10-000100_AddStyleToPreferences.php
@@ -10,13 +10,18 @@ class AddStyleToPreferences extends Migration
     {
         if ($this->db->tableExists('user_preferences')) {
             if (! $this->db->fieldExists('style_color', 'user_preferences')) {
+                $styleColor = [
+                    'type'       => 'VARCHAR',
+                    'constraint' => 32,
+                    'null'       => true,
+                ];
+
+                if ($this->db->fieldExists('timezone', 'user_preferences')) {
+                    $styleColor['after'] = 'timezone';
+                }
+
                 $this->forge->addColumn('user_preferences', [
-                    'style_color' => [
-                        'type'       => 'VARCHAR',
-                        'constraint' => 32,
-                        'null'       => true,
-                        'after'      => 'timezone',
-                    ],
+                    'style_color' => $styleColor,
                 ]);
             }
             if (! $this->db->fieldExists('menu_color', 'user_preferences')) {
diff --git a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-07-12-040600_FixSchoolYearColumns.php b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-07-12-040600_FixSchoolYearColumns.php
index 95792e6..c7e47dd 100644
--- a/app/Database/Migrations/2026-07-12-040600_FixSchoolYearColumns.php
+++ b/app/Database/Migrations/2026-07-12-040600_FixSchoolYearColumns.php
@@ -122,6 +122,8 @@ class FixSchoolYearColumns extends Migration
             );
         }
 
+        $this->db->resetDataCache();
+
         // These annual entities lacked a school_year column in the audited schema.
         foreach (['class_progress_reports', 'exams', 'print_requests'] as $table) {
             if ($this->db->tableExists($table) && ! $this->db->fieldExists('school_year', $table)) {
@@ -137,6 +139,8 @@ class FixSchoolYearColumns extends Migration
             }
         }
 
+        $this->db->resetDataCache();
+
         // Validate and normalize every direct owner to VARCHAR(9).
         foreach ($this->yearOwnerTables as $table) {
             if (! $this->db->tableExists($table) || ! $this->db->fieldExists('school_year', $table)) {
@@ -163,6 +167,8 @@ class FixSchoolYearColumns extends Migration
             }
         }
 
+        $this->db->resetDataCache();
+
         // Remove redundant columns. Dependent non-primary indexes are removed first.
         foreach ($this->tablesWithoutDirectYear as $table) {
             if (! $this->db->tableExists($table) || ! $this->db->fieldExists('school_year', $table)) {
@@ -172,6 +178,7 @@ class FixSchoolYearColumns extends Migration
             $this->dropIndexesContainingColumn($table, 'school_year');
             $this->dropChecksContainingColumn($table, 'school_year');
             $this->forge->dropColumn($table, 'school_year');
+            $this->db->resetDataCache();
         }
 
         foreach ($this->tablesWithoutDirectSemester as $table) {
@@ -182,8 +189,11 @@ class FixSchoolYearColumns extends Migration
             $this->dropIndexesContainingColumn($table, 'semester');
             $this->dropChecksContainingColumn($table, 'semester');
             $this->forge->dropColumn($table, 'semester');
+            $this->db->resetDataCache();
         }
 
+        $this->db->resetDataCache();
+
         foreach ($this->yearOwnerTables as $table) {
             if (! $this->db->tableExists($table) || ! $this->db->fieldExists('school_year', $table)) {
                 continue;
diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index d108f61..73a9914 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -49,6 +49,6 @@
         "sort-packages": true
     },
     "scripts": {
-        "test": "phpunit"
+        "test": "php -d variables_order=EGPCS vendor/bin/phpunit"
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/_support/DBReset.php b/tests/_support/DBReset.php
index b285dc7..0a971f8 100644
--- a/tests/_support/DBReset.php
+++ b/tests/_support/DBReset.php
@@ -2,19 +2,39 @@
 
 namespace Tests\Support;
 
-use CodeIgniter\Test\CIUnitTestCase;
 use Config\Database;
+use Throwable;
 
 class DBReset
 {
+    private const DB_GROUP = 'tests';
+
     protected static array $excludeTables = ['migrations'];
 
     public static function resetDatabase(): void
     {
-        $db = Database::connect();
+        $config = config('Database');
+        $dbConfig = $config->{self::DB_GROUP} ?? [];
+
+        try {
+            $db = Database::connect(self::DB_GROUP);
+            $db->initialize();
+        } catch (Throwable $exception) {
+            throw new \RuntimeException(
+                sprintf(
+                    'Test database connection failed: group=%s host=%s port=%s database=%s',
+                    self::DB_GROUP,
+                    $dbConfig['hostname'] ?? '',
+                    $dbConfig['port'] ?? '',
+                    $dbConfig['database'] ?? ''
+                ),
+                0,
+                $exception
+            );
+        }
+
         $db->disableForeignKeyChecks();
 
-        // Get all table names
         $tables = $db->listTables();
 
         foreach ($tables as $table) {
diff --git a/tests/_support/import_baseline.php b/tests/_support/import_baseline.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a49c39e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/_support/import_baseline.php
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+if (PHP_SAPI !== 'cli') {
+    fwrite(STDERR, "This script must be run from the command line.\n");
+    exit(1);
+}
+
+$dumpPath = $argv[1] ?? null;
+
+if ($dumpPath === null || ! is_file($dumpPath) || ! is_readable($dumpPath)) {
+    fwrite(STDERR, "Usage: php tests/_support/import_baseline.php path/to/dump.sql\n");
+    exit(1);
+}
+
+$requiredEnv = [
+    'TEST_DB_HOST',
+    'TEST_DB_USER',
+    'TEST_DB_PASSWORD',
+    'TEST_DB_NAME',
+    'TEST_DB_PORT',
+];
+
+foreach ($requiredEnv as $name) {
+    if (getenv($name) === false || getenv($name) === '') {
+        fwrite(STDERR, "Missing required environment variable: {$name}\n");
+        exit(1);
+    }
+}
+
+mysqli_report(MYSQLI_REPORT_ERROR | MYSQLI_REPORT_STRICT);
+
+$db = new mysqli(
+    getenv('TEST_DB_HOST'),
+    getenv('TEST_DB_USER'),
+    getenv('TEST_DB_PASSWORD'),
+    getenv('TEST_DB_NAME'),
+    (int) getenv('TEST_DB_PORT')
+);
+
+$db->set_charset('utf8mb4');
+$db->query('SET FOREIGN_KEY_CHECKS=0');
+
+$tables = $db->query('SHOW FULL TABLES WHERE Table_type = "BASE TABLE"')->fetch_all(MYSQLI_NUM);
+
+foreach ($tables as [$table]) {
+    $db->query('DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `' . str_replace('`', '``', $table) . '`');
+}
+
+$db->query('SET FOREIGN_KEY_CHECKS=1');
+
+$sql = file_get_contents($dumpPath);
+
+if ($sql === false) {
+    fwrite(STDERR, "Unable to read baseline dump: {$dumpPath}\n");
+    exit(1);
+}
+
+$db->multi_query($sql);
+
+do {
+    if ($result = $db->store_result()) {
+        $result->free();
+    }
+} while ($db->more_results() && $db->next_result());
+
+$baselineVersion = '2025-12-07-235959';
+$migrationFiles = glob(dirname(__DIR__, 2) . '/app/Database/Migrations/*.php') ?: [];
+$maxId = (int) ($db->query('SELECT COALESCE(MAX(id), 0) AS id FROM migrations')->fetch_assoc()['id'] ?? 0);
+$maxBatch = (int) ($db->query('SELECT COALESCE(MAX(batch), 0) AS batch FROM migrations')->fetch_assoc()['batch'] ?? 0);
+
+foreach ($migrationFiles as $file) {
+    $filename = basename($file, '.php');
+
+    if (! preg_match('/^(\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}-\d{6})_(.+)$/', $filename, $matches)) {
+        continue;
+    }
+
+    [$all, $version] = $matches;
+
+    if ($version > $baselineVersion) {
+        continue;
+    }
+
+    $contents = file_get_contents($file);
+
+    if ($contents === false || ! preg_match('/class\s+([A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*)\s+extends\s+Migration/', $contents, $classMatch)) {
+        continue;
+    }
+
+    $class = 'App\\Database\\Migrations\\' . $classMatch[1];
+    $exists = $db
+        ->query(
+            'SELECT 1 FROM migrations WHERE version = "' . $db->real_escape_string($version) . '"'
+            . ' AND class = "' . $db->real_escape_string($class) . '" LIMIT 1'
+        )
+        ->num_rows > 0;
+
+    if ($exists) {
+        continue;
+    }
+
+    $date = DateTimeImmutable::createFromFormat('Y-m-d-His', $version);
+    $time = $date instanceof DateTimeImmutable ? $date->getTimestamp() : time();
+
+    $statement = $db->prepare(
+        'INSERT INTO migrations (id, version, class, `group`, namespace, time, batch) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)'
+    );
+
+    $id = ++$maxId;
+    $group = 'default';
+    $namespace = 'App';
+    $batch = $maxBatch;
+    $statement->bind_param('issssii', $id, $version, $class, $group, $namespace, $time, $batch);
+    $statement->execute();
+}
+
+$count = $db->query('SHOW TABLES')->num_rows;
+
+if ($count === 0) {
+    fwrite(STDERR, "Baseline import produced no tables\n");
+    exit(1);
+}
+
+echo "Baseline schema imported: {$count} table(s)\n";
diff --git a/tests/app/Models/AttendanceDataModelTest.php b/tests/app/Models/AttendanceDataModelTest.php
index e3d4d02..24f8c09 100644
--- a/tests/app/Models/AttendanceDataModelTest.php
+++ b/tests/app/Models/AttendanceDataModelTest.php
@@ -16,25 +16,48 @@ class AttendanceDataModelTest extends CIUnitTestCase
 
     public function testCanInsertAndRetrieve()
     {
-        $record = fake(AttendanceDataModel::class);
-        $this->assertNotNull($record->id);
-        $fetched = (new AttendanceDataModel())->find($record->id);
-        $this->assertEquals($record->id, $fetched->id);
+        $model = new AttendanceDataModel();
+        $id = $model->insert($this->validAttendanceRow());
+
+        $this->assertNotFalse($id);
+
+        $fetched = $model->find($id);
+        $this->assertSame((int) $id, (int) $fetched['id']);
     }
 
     public function testCanUpdate()
     {
-        $record = fake(AttendanceDataModel::class);
         $model = new AttendanceDataModel();
-        $model->update($record->id, ['updated_at' => date('Y-m-d H:i:s')]);
-        $this->assertTrue(true); // simple test to verify no exception thrown
+        $id = $model->insert($this->validAttendanceRow());
+
+        $this->assertTrue($model->update($id, ['updated_at' => date('Y-m-d H:i:s')]));
     }
 
     public function testCanDelete()
     {
-        $record = fake(AttendanceDataModel::class);
         $model = new AttendanceDataModel();
-        $model->delete($record->id);
-        $this->assertNull($model->find($record->id));
+        $id = $model->insert($this->validAttendanceRow());
+
+        $model->delete($id);
+
+        $this->assertNull($model->find($id));
+    }
+
+    private function validAttendanceRow(): array
+    {
+        return [
+            'class_id' => 1,
+            'class_section_id' => 1,
+            'school_id' => 1,
+            'student_id' => 1,
+            'date' => '2026-01-01',
+            'status' => 'present',
+            'reason' => '',
+            'is_reported' => 'no',
+            'is_notified' => 'no',
+            'semester' => 'Fall',
+            'school_year' => '2025-2026',
+            'modified_by' => 1,
+        ];
     }
 }