Communication

sERP v1.11 introduces a suite of in-app communication tools that complement the existing SMS functionality. These tools enable two-way communication between administrators, teachers, students, and parents — all within the platform.

Access the Communication tools from the Communication section in the main navigation menu.

Note

Access to the communication tools for staff users is controlled by the following access roles, which must be assigned by an administrator via Manage Users:

  • Messaging (role 94) — required for staff to send and receive in-app messages

  • Forums (role 95) — required for staff to view and participate in discussion forums

  • Conferences (role 96) — required for staff to schedule and manage parent-teacher conferences

Students and parents have access to the features relevant to them (Messages, Conferences for parents, Forums) automatically through their portal accounts, without requiring these roles.

Messages

The in-app messaging system allows direct communication between any two users in sERP — across user types (staff, student, parent).

Inbox

Navigate to Communication > Messages to view your inbox. Messages are grouped by thread (conversation). Unread message counts are displayed as a badge next to the Messages menu item.

The inbox table shows:

  • Thread subject

  • The other participant(s) in the conversation

  • Last message preview

  • Date of last message

  • Read/unread status

Click a thread to open and read the full conversation.

Composing a New Message

  1. Click Compose from the Messages inbox

  2. Select the Recipient Type (Staff, Student, or Parent)

  3. Select the specific recipient from the dropdown (populated based on type)

  4. Enter the Subject

  5. Type your message in the body

  6. Click Send

Replying to a Message

  1. Open a thread from the inbox

  2. Type your reply in the reply box at the bottom of the thread

  3. Click Send Reply

All replies are appended to the same thread for a coherent conversation history.

Note

Messages are accessible to all user types: staff can message students, parents, or other staff; students and parents can message staff. Portal users (students and parents) access the Messages section from the Communication menu in their portal.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

The Conferences module enables school staff to schedule and manage parent-teacher meetings.

Scheduling a Conference

  1. Navigate to Communication > Conferences

  2. Click Schedule Conference

  3. Fill in:

    • Teacher: select the participating teacher

    • Parent: select the parent/guardian

    • Student: select the relevant student

    • Date & Time: the scheduled date and time

    • Duration: expected meeting duration in minutes

    • Topic: subject or agenda for the meeting

  4. Click Schedule

The conference appears in the list with status Pending. The parent can view their scheduled conferences from the parent portal.

Conference Status

Conferences progress through the following statuses:

  • Pending: scheduled but not yet confirmed

  • Confirmed: confirmed by the teacher or admin

  • Completed: the meeting has taken place

  • Cancelled: the meeting was cancelled

Use the action buttons in the conference list to update the status.

Tip

Parents can see their upcoming conferences under Communication > Conferences in the parent portal, alongside the scheduled date, time, teacher name, and topic.

Feedback

The Feedback module allows students and parents to submit structured ratings and comments on teachers and school services.

Submitting Feedback (Student/Parent Portal)

  1. From the portal, navigate to Communication > Feedback

  2. Select the Feedback Type (e.g. Teacher Feedback, General School Feedback)

  3. If providing teacher feedback, select the teacher from the dropdown

  4. Select a Rating from 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent)

  5. Enter your Comments

  6. Click Submit Feedback

Viewing Feedback (Admin)

Navigate to Communication > Feedback from the admin panel to view all feedback submissions.

The feedback table shows:

  • Submitter (student or parent)

  • Feedback type and target (e.g. specific teacher)

  • Rating

  • Comments

  • Date submitted

Note

Feedback scores feed directly into the Teacher Performance Report, which aggregates average ratings per teacher across the school.

Discussion Forums

Discussion forums enable collaborative conversations between staff, students, and parents, grouped by class or subject.

Viewing Threads

Navigate to Communication > Forums to see the list of discussion threads. Filter threads by class or subject using the dropdown filters. Pinned threads appear at the top of the list.

Each thread shows:

  • Thread title

  • Posted by (user name and type)

  • Class/subject scope

  • Number of replies

  • Date of last post

Starting a New Thread

  1. Click New Thread

  2. Select the Class and/or Subject scope (optional — leave blank for a school-wide thread)

  3. Enter the thread Title

  4. Write the opening post

  5. Click Post Thread

Replying to a Thread

  1. Click on a thread title to open it

  2. Read the posts in the thread

  3. Enter your reply in the text box at the bottom

  4. Click Post Reply

Moderation

Administrator and staff users can:

  • Pin a thread to keep it at the top of the list

  • Lock a thread to prevent further replies

  • Delete a post or thread

Note

Students and parents can participate in forums from their respective portals via the Communication > Forums menu item.