Shanghai Daily news

One million parents in the city will receive their children's report cards via e-mail from now on, the Shanghai Education Commission announced yesterday.

The commission teamed up with the Shanghai Information Technology Development Commission to launch an online platform between teachers and parents yesterday.

The interactive platform allows teachers to send information such as course schedules, academic results and comments to parents via e-mail.

Parents can log onto their sm-mail box, a government-sponsored e-mail account for every resident, to get the information as well as give feedback to teachers.

The service is free and parents can choose to open the account on a voluntary basis, officials said.

Shen Xiaoming, director of the education commission, said that the city's widespread use of the Internet and cell phones makes it possible for teachers and parents to keep in better contact with each other.

"That will not only greatly enhance efficiency for teachers, but also ensure students are monitored by parents," Shen said.

About half of Shanghai's families have Internet access and about 90 percent own a mobile phone, according to the information commission.

Previously, teachers only contacted parents by leaving notes, making phone calls or the very occasional drop-in at a student's home.

For families without Internet access, commission officials said that they would provide free short message services to about 60,000 low-income families.