In such a situation, the management of Vikhe Patil Memorial School (VPMS) in the city has decided to use the short messaging service (SMS) to let parents know in advance about the school's closure, delay or breakdown of school buses, changed exam schedules or any lastminute problem. They will also wish students on their birthdays, or congratulate them for special achievements and awards they win.

A software designed by entrepreneur Ravi Ghate allows the school to send simultaneous SMSes to over 1,000 parents at a time. ``The SMSOne-Express is a PC-to-mobile software that can send 1,000 SMSes per minute, as against an ordinary mobile, which can send only six per minute,'' said Ghate.

The software has 20 templates designed for various situa tions. ``We can contact parents directly in case of any emergency, rather than send notices through the stu dents, who often misplace them or forget to show their parents,'' said VPMS principal Nandini Charles.

A staff member is in charge of the operation. ``If the decision to close the school is taken late in the night, the co ordinator will go to the office and send the message to all parents,'' said Charles.

The programme will be launched on Saturday for 1,200 students from the Junior KG to standard IX. ``Around 1,600 mothers and fathers signed up for the programme,'' said Ghate.

SMSOne Express is offered to schools through three schemes. ``Either the schools volunteer to bear the costs, or parents have to pay a cost of Rs 30-50 as an annual charge. They can even receive the SMS free and the company recovers costs through promotional SMS sent to the parents,'' Ghate explained.

Ghate said 40 other schools have already shown interest in the programme. ``In Millenium National, Sinhagad Springdale, and Vidya Bhavan, we are seeking permission letters from the parents.