It is not just businesses that is using technology to meet
government regulations. A school in Chesterfield is installing a
system to
automatically contact the parents of children absent from
school to help it meet government set targets for reduced
truancy.
As reported by 24dash.com, software called
Truancy Call has been introduced
by Deincourt Community School to make contact with parents of
absentees via email, SMS text and voice calling. The system
attempts to obtain a direct response from the parents.
The software is installed on a PC with an unlimited site
licence. PCs only require an internet connection, soundcard and
speakers/headphones with no additional hardware or telephone lines
required.
"Truancy Call, allows parents/guardians, as part of the
automated phone call, to speak a reason for their child's absence
into the phone and, if they received a text message, they can then
text the reasons for their child's absence back," says a
spokesperson from Truancy call.
The government has set a
target
to reduce the 2002/03 level of school absence by 8% by
2007/08.
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