The much-awaited school carnival was just three days away and Sunitha’s son was unwell and resting at home. “Amma, I wish I knew the schedule. They would have given the circular today,” he cried. Sunitha was trying to call another parent to get information when her phone rang. It was a voice mail in the principal’s voice, providing all details .
The school had tied up with a voice-based information provider, Chennai-based Voice Snap, to pass on news about homework, circulars, reports and emergencies. It ensures parents are clued into what’s happening at school, and that the school can reach parents with a common voice note, in a language of their choice, says G. Surendar, business partner for Coimbatore and neighbouring districts. Currently, 25 schools in the city have opted for their services.
Surekha Nair, principal, Vivekalaya, which implemented it first, says the system has been appreciated by parents. “Often, children don’t take home circulars — they misplace them or just forget about them. When the information is passed on through a phone call, it reaches the recipient,” she says. Parent Anu Vignesh says this is a fool-proof way to convey news. “But, care must be taken so that the voice mail sounds pleasant even if it is a reminder about a delay in fee payment,” she says.
P. Poongothai, principal, GRG MHSS, says voice messages are more intimate and go down better than an impersonal SMS. “Every school is given a dedicated number, so parents know it is school-related information. Earlier, when we were sending out common SMSs to parents, I would ask to be sent one too, to check if the message was conveyed right. On Voice Snap, it is just me or the vice-principal who speaks. There is a sense of satisfaction that you are directly conveying the message.”
Surendar says that Voice Snap makes allowances for parents’ schedules. “A call goes out three times, and if a parent still does not pick up the call, we follow it up with an SMS. If a parent has not heard the message clearly, he/she just has to give a missed call to the number, which works 24x7, to hear it again.” Though many schools use the facility to pass on details about activities and fee payments, it can be used to transmit academic reports too. Most importantly, it does not require an internet connection; an active mobile connection would do. “That makes it accessible to so many people,” says Surendar.
For details, call 99943-19241 or mail suren@voicesnap.net
