14
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1993
200 CALLS A DAY AT AUTOMATIC ENQUIRY SERVICE
* * * * *
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE ENQUIRY SERVICE, WHICH IS ON A FOUR-MONTH TRIAL RUN, RECEIVED AN AVERAGE OF 200 CALLS A DAY SINCE ITS LAUNCH ON FEBRUARY 15.
TOTAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO USED THE SERVICE ON TEL 891 0088 FROM FEBRUARY 15 TO YESTERDAY ( (FEBRUARY 24) WAS 1,893, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE SERVICE INCLUDES FAX INFORMATION AND CALL TRANSFERS. REQUESTS FOR FAX MESSAGES TOTALLED 155 AND FOR CALL TRANSFERS, 259.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE SERVICE WAS BEING TESTED то ITS LIMIT TO SCREEN OUT ANY FAULTS IN THE COMPUTERISED SYSTEM.
"FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS FOR INSTANCE, WE FOUND THAT THE CLOCK DEVICE WAS OUT OF KILTER AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC REQUIRING CALL TRANSFERS FOUND THEMSELVES BEING TOLD ΤΟ CALL BACK DURING OFFICE HOURS WHEN IN FACT IT WAS WITHIN THAT PERIOD, HE SAID.
"I
BECAUSE OF THIS, HE SAID, THE FIGURES FOR CALL TRANSFERS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH HIGHER.
BUT THIS GREMLIN HAD BEEN EXORCISED, he added.
"THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO LOOKING INTO ENHANCING THE FLESH-AND-BLOOD SIDE WHICH FORMS A VITAL PART OF THE AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE ENQUIRY SERVICE, HE SAID.
P+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID ONE COMPLAINT WAS RECEIVED VIA A LOCAL NEWSPAPER ON A STUDENT WHO REQUIRED STUDENT GUIDANCE SERVICE.
"MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN REST ASSURED THAT WE CONSTANTLY MONITOR AND RECTIFY ALL SITUATIONS, HE SAID.
WILL
Th
NEW ITEMS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE SERVICE.
THE
"WE HAVE, FOR INSTANCE, UPDATED THE INFORMATION OF NON-GRADUATE TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS ASSESSMENT SCHEME TO ALERT POTENTIAL APPLICANTS OF THE FEBRUARY 27 DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS.
"WE WILL ALSO INCLUDE MORE FAX INFORMATION SUCH AS THE SCHOOL LIST OF ALL TYPES OF SCHOOLS IN THE 19 DISTRICTS AND VACANCIES FOR PART-TIME ADULT EDUCATION COURSE LECTURERS, HE ADDED.
"
/15