A multi-purpose smart card is not that smart after all, according to staff and students at a Hong Kong school.
The first Internet-based smart card for students, KOOLSmart is a joint venture by Octopus and Pacific Century CyberWorks. It comprises functions already available on the Octopus card, allowing students to pay for meals, extra-curricular activities and miscellaneous items.
However, although originally intended to eliminate administrative mistakes in money collection, the card has encountered a string of setbacks involving delayed payment confirmation, limited credit value and high operational costs.
'Under the current system, students get receipts via e-mail after payment. You don't know whether the transaction was successful or if the amount is correct. More protection should be given to students as consumers,' said Diocesan Boys' School (DBS) vice-principal, Lau Pak-wing.
A Form Five class at DBS used the card during a pilot scheme in September, and is now embarking on the second phase of the experiment.
While urging that receipts be issued immediately after payment, Mr Lau also hopes that the Octopus card's maximum transaction limit will be increased to $250, although he admits that this poses an additional risk for the company.
