BOB GELDOF - GELDOF FIGHTS TRUANCY

Activist BOB GELDOF is urging the British Government to adopt a text-messaging based scheme to help cut truancy rates in British schools. The former BOOMTOWN RATS singer believes the Groupcall scheme, which alerts parents when their child fails to turn up at school, is vital in the battle to halt pupils skipping school. Geldof has pleaded with the Labour Government to adopt the new strategy - with the plan already in place in Australia. He says, "I say (to them) why aren't you using this? You came to power specifically on the promise of education, education, education, and here's something that delivers you measurable results in the fight against truancy. "It's a no-brainer. We're already talking with the Western Australian Government, who are just going to roll it out all over there."