Benefits of cashless payments in schools

Utilities

Previously, Ms. Le Thi Hien in Hai Duong City had to go to school to pay tuition fees for her children. As a worker, she was often busy and had difficulty going to school during working hours. Now, with just a few simple steps on her smartphone, she can pay these fees.

“Since the school implemented cashless payments, we can pay at any time and don't have to worry when our children bring cash to school,” said Ms. Hien.

Previously, every time it was time to collect tuition fees and other fees, the staff and teachers of Lai Cach Secondary School (Cam Giang) had to work hard because they had to directly write receipts, reconcile, collect money and sign receipts. With nearly 900 students, collecting money also significantly affected the time teachers spent on professional work. From the 2023-2024 school year, the school has implemented cashless tuition collection via the JETPAY application.

Ms. Vu Thi Duc, Principal of Lai Cach Secondary School, said that this payment method has many benefits. The JETPAY software system will connect accountants - principals - parents. The school accountant creates the collection, issues invoices; the principal supervises; parents receive notifications and pay online. After payment, parents receive notifications immediately. Homeroom teachers and accountants save time collecting, counting money, recording books, and depositing money in banks; avoiding the risk of errors, losses, counterfeit money, etc. "This payment method ensures financial transparency and publicity, helping the school manage its collections more scientifically and effectively," Ms. Duc said.

In the 2023-2024 school year, Tu Minh Secondary School (Hai Duong City) has more than 1,100 students, of which up to 30% are children of workers. Teacher Nguyen Viet Hoa, Principal of the school, said that the school will implement cashless payments from the second semester of the 2022-2023 school year. Through the SISAP application, parents can pay tuition for their children without having to go to school.

"The principal can immediately grasp the tuition payment situation of students by class, grade, and the whole school to remind and give timely instructions," said Mr. Hoa.

There are also psychological barriers.

Implementing the Government's policy on developing non-cash payments in Vietnam in the 2021-2025 period, under the direction of the Ministry of Education and Training and the People's Committee of Hai Duong province, since September 2022, the Department of Education and Training has actively implemented it throughout the industry.

The Department of Education and Training has requested educational institutions to strengthen propaganda, encouragement, mobilization, and guidance for cadres, civil servants, public employees, and parents to pay tuition fees and educational services through the software application system, without using cash. Educational institutions coordinate with banks, credit institutions, payment intermediaries, and related units to implement this content. Priority is given to banks and credit institutions with good support policies such as funding for initialization costs, annual maintenance fees, and other support policies.

A representative of the Hai Duong Department of Education and Training said that it has required 100% of educational institutions in the province to make non-cash payments for tuition and other fees, using the unified EMIS software for management and monitoring. The Department has organized 13 training courses to guide the implementation of non-cash payments for 100% of account holders and accountants of schools.

Schools have developed plans, promoted and mobilized parents to join hands with the school in implementing digital transformation. Staff and teachers have been thoroughly trained. Homeroom teachers have promoted and guided parents on the payment process.

However, as of early November, there were still no specific figures on the number of schools using this form of payment.

The convenience of cashless payment has been agreed upon and implemented by the majority of parents. However, there are still many obstacles, including the reluctance of a few schools, teachers, and parents to switch. Currently, many schools have not yet chosen a payment application software.

According to some school principals, after a period of implementation, difficulties have been revealed, such as parents being reluctant to change their habit of paying in cash. Many parents are not yet able to use this method, especially in rural areas and from poor families. Therefore, many schools still collect fees both directly and online.