Two Irish schools are testing a new scheme using modern mobile-phone technology to take the temptation out of playing truant.

Under the scheme, a database records the names of absent students each day and automatically sends out a text message to parents notifying them if their child missed roll-call.

"If the absenteeism is legitimate, parents can ignore the message. If not, they can contact the school," David Sweeney, principal of Dublin's Portmarnock Community School -- one of the two pilot sites -- said on Thursday.

While the school, which has 900 pupils aged between 12 and 18, did not have a big problem with truancy, the scheme had already made an impact, he said.

"It's a natural progression from the old style of roll-call. It's quick and efficient and we're very pleased with it."

However, he noted there had been some resistance from students to supplying their parents' mobile numbers.

A spokesman for Dataset IT Systems, which operates the technology, said interest in the scheme was growing.

Mirroring moves by Britain, the Irish government beefed up legislation last year to fine and even imprison parents for failing to deal with persistent truancy by their children.

Full Article:
CNN News