School gets tech savvy with GPS trackers
Students of Rhenish Church Grace School are using the technology to help them stay with their group during trips to the mainland
A school for mentally disabled children has found a novel use for GPS technology by tracking its students to stop them getting lost during outings.
The Rhenish Church Grace School, in Diamond Hill, used GPS trackers on their senior secondary students for the first time during a tour of Guangdong province this month.
The principal, Samuel Tse Hing-sang, was able to locate students on a map on his computer and take immediate action if any strayed from the group.
"We are always worrying about our students running off and getting lost, even in Hong Kong," Tse said.
The school has 103 students aged six to 18. Most are moderately mentally disabled and some have very little language ability.
"They have the ability to run around, but they lack the ability to face contingencies," Tse said. "If we can locate lost students early, we can minimise the risk of accidents."
As the children gain more opportunities to go on learning tours, keeping them safe has become a major issue for the school. It has sought legal advice to confirm that using GPS devices would not breach any laws. Parental consent is required.