Useful links:
eMoney News | eMoney Press Releases | sQuid schemes - eMoney

eMoney News

Canadian schools see benefits of cashless catering
29 Jun 2010

Pupils at ten Canadian schools have benefited from the introduction of cashless catering schemes. 

Students can pay for their lunch with their fingertips as the programme uses biometric technology, reports the dailygleaner.com. 

Schools profit from improved cash flow and can avoid bounced cheques, while pupils see queuing times slashed and no longer have to worry about carrying around lunch money. 

Parents simply create an online account with their child's school to pay for dinners and funds can be used to cover sporting events and field trips. 

Paula Kristmanson, a parent of a pupil using the cashless system, hoped the scheme will be expanded in the future. 

She told the website: "I hope it's available for the rest of my son's education because it's really convenient for someone like me who does all of my banking online.

"It's also a great way to keep a running record of everything paid for at my son's school, including what he spends in the cafeteria."

Around a quarter of students at the schools currently use the optional system, with officials planning to make improvements to operations in the coming months.