Standard Bank, in association with Virtual Market Place (VMP), is participating in a smart card project at three Johannesburg schools, Northcliff High School, Dainfern College and Brescia House.

Learners at these schools have been issued with smart cards, known as the MySchool Learner Card. This card has a multi-application microchip, which enables it to be used as a payment device at the school for vending machines as well as at the tuckshop. The card can also be used to pay for a variety of school-related items, such as school trips, photocopying and transport.

A countrywide rollout of cards into other schools is already underway and it is expected that a number of schools will have smart cards by the middle of next year.

The smart cards are designed to reduce the amount of cash processed at a school and provide a more efficient and cheaper payment solution. They feature personal details of learners, their photograph and the school badge.

VMP was founded six years ago to assist schools in raising funds. It provides specialised technology services to schools under the MySchool brand. VMP uses the technology services and expertise of Prism to facilitate these smart card transactions.

VMP has also developed the MySchool Supporters Card, which is issued to parents. When the parents use the card at various retailers a portion of the spend goes to the school of their choice. Retail partners include Woolworths, Sportsmans Warehouse, Link Pharmacies, Wimpy, Stax, Dischem, Mug ‘n Bean, Supa Quick, Jack’s Paint and Steers.

At present over 100 schools, predominately in north-western Johannesburg, use the MySchool Supporters Card. They include St Stithians, Redhill School, St David’s College, Brescia House, Kingsmead College, Northcliff Primary and High School, Dainfern College and Bryanston Primary and High School.

Over R3 million has been raised for schools to date.