Communication
Complete guide to SMS broadcasting, push notifications, in-app messaging, and email campaigns in Ardent SMS.
Communication Hub
Reach parents, staff, and students through SMS, push notifications, email, and in-app announcements — all from a single dashboard with full delivery tracking.
Overview
The Communication module centralizes all school-to-stakeholder communication. Whether it's a routine announcement, emergency alert, or individual parent message, everything is sent, tracked, and logged from one place.
Communication Channels
| Channel | Use Case | Reach | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMS (Hubtel) | Fee reminders, emergency alerts, absence notifications | All parents (no app required) | Per-message pricing |
| Push Notifications | Real-time alerts for app users | Staff, Parent, and Student app users | Free |
| In-App Messages | Detailed announcements with attachments | All portal and app users | Free |
| Formal communications, newsletters, report cards | Staff and parents with email | Free |
Key Features
Broadcast Messages
Send messages to targeted audiences:
- All Parents — School-wide announcements
- By Class — Class-specific notices (e.g., "Class 5B field trip on Friday")
- By Category — Boarders only, day students only, transport users
- Individual — Direct parent-teacher communication
Message Templates
Create reusable templates for common communications:
| Template | Variables | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Absence Alert | student_name, date | "Your ward John was absent on 2026-05-01." |
| Fee Reminder | student_name, amount, due_date | "Outstanding balance of GHS 500.00 for John. Due: 2026-06-01." |
| Event Notice | event_name, date, time | "Sports Day on 2026-05-15 at 8:00 AM. All parents welcome." |
| Emergency | message | "URGENT: School closing early due to weather. Please contact the school immediately." |
Delivery Tracking
Every message sent through Ardent SMS is tracked with delivery status:
- ✅ Delivered — Message received by the recipient
- ⏳ Pending — Message in queue, awaiting delivery
- ❌ Failed — Invalid number or network error
- 🚫 Opted Out — Recipient has opted out of messages
Emergency Alerts
A dedicated emergency broadcast system that:
- Sends simultaneously across all channels (SMS + Push + Email)
- Bypasses normal scheduling queues for instant delivery
- Logs the alert for compliance and audit purposes
- Can be triggered by Super Admin or Admin only
Permissions
Communication Module Access
| Feature | Super Admin | Admin | Teacher | Accountant | Parent | Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Send broadcast SMS | ||||||
| Send class announcements | ||||||
| View delivery logs | ||||||
| Manage templates | ||||||
| Emergency broadcast | ||||||
| Message teacher |
Ghana Payroll — Complete Guide
How Ardent SMS computes PAYE, SSNIT, Tier 2, and Tier 3 contributions for Ghanaian school staff. Includes 2026 tax bands and interactive calculator.
Hostel Management
Complete guide to dormitory allocation, roll calls, visitor management, and hostel fee integration in Ardent SMS.