Schools take hi-tech approach to tracking truants

Schools are increasingly using hi-tech ways of catching truants and keeping parents informed when a pupil fails to turn up for class.

The automated systems use computer technology, internet databases and even cellphones to make it harder to skip school.

Rotorua Lakes High School principal John Ellis said his school was looking at implementing an attendance tracking system called Safe at School.

It logged attendance and highlighted absences, which would be followed up with telephone calls or emails.

While truancy was not a big problem at the school, Mr Ellis said it was important to have a good attendance system in place for student safety.

He hoped the new system would not only combat truancy but also keep the school in closer contact with parents.

Another option available is the Rolltrack mobile phone system. Data entered on cellphones is sent to a central server and schools can then use the information to contact truants' parents or caregivers.

At John Paul College, Rotorua, principal Patrick Walsh has decided against that approach in favour of a new computerised system.

Teachers currently complete form rolls at the start of the day and check attendance at each class, recording it at the end of the day.

The school generally had a high attendance rate and Mr Walsh said he hoped it would help identify the small number of truants who may have been falling through the cracks.

Taupo's Tauhara College is trialling the Safe at School system.

Deputy principal Colleen Saunders said the school started with a tutor roll taken at the start of the day and had now extended that to random checks on a daily basis.

All unexplained absences were forwarded to the programme's Auckland base via the internet. A computer then phoned parents to tell them their child was absent and could also send text messages and emails.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA), NZHERALD STAFF