24 March 2005
Internet technology and text messaging communications is assisting schools struggling with the problems of pupils playing truant.
The truancy alert system - which checks a database of children in the school texts or calls parents whose children don't turn up.
Parents then have to confirm whether they are aware of the absence.
The technology has proved so successful it is to be rolled out in 160 Scottish secondary schools facing the biggest truancy problems.
On a visit to Edinburgh's Drummond Community High School, where a system called Truancy Call has been used for almost a year, education minister Peter Peacock said:
"Texting and calling parents will be a significant help and free up staff to concentrate their efforts on reaching the hardcore of persistent truants. Occasional truants will know they have a far greater chance of being caught.
"When using this system schools may also send group messages to all parents alerting them to school events or updates to individual parents on the progress of their child."© DeHavilland Information Services plc
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