A Scottish junior high school is testing a system that enables students to pay for their school meals with a card. Sandwick Junior High School has become the first school in Shetland to test the system where pupils, whose parents opted into the program, pay for their lunches with a swipe card.

The program is likely to be popular with many of the school’s 175 pupils wanting to be part of it, said head teacher Stuart Clubb. Eventually it is anticipated that the card can also be used for other activities, such as bus fares or payments for school trips.

“The benefit is that it removes the need for pupils to be taking cash into school, it reduces the administration in collecting money and there will be less cash in the building,” said Clubb.

Pupils can register by computer and, once activated, their parents can go online and load the card. Or, the cards can be loaded at school. As the money can only be spent in the school canteen, parents can be sure their children are eating at school, rather than spending cash on snacks outside the school. Parents can also view transactions online.

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