Text messages help tackle truancy

SMS messaging technology is being used by a British college to tackle the problem of truancy among students.Hampshire-based Crestwood College had been finding the number of unauthorised absences a growing concern, especially as staff were having to spend time chasing up parents on the phone.However, a new text messaging system which enables mums and dads to be contacted automatically when their child does not arrive for school has been introduced.This has had the consequence of cutting the absence rate and freeing up time that staff previously spent ringing up parents.Theresa Holman, attendance officer at the college, commented: "Because text messaging is instant, it has cut down the time I used to spend making phone calls and delivers better results."Education provider Groupcall recently revealed that this technology proved to be highly useful during this month's snowfall.Parents were able to be told that schools would be remaining closed amid the adverse winter conditions.

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