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How MoMo is making school fees easier for parents

By Our Reporter For many parents, school fees are not simply another household bill. They are a responsibility that returns every term, often competing with rent, food, transport, medical expenses and other family needs. And with the third term already underway, some parents are still working to clear outstanding school fees before schools close in early December. For these families, the question is not only where to find the money, but also how to make the payment quickly and safely. That is where mobile money is becoming part of the school-fees routine. Instead of travelling to a bank or school, withdrawing cash and joining a queue to make a payment, parents using MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) can settle school fees directly from their phones. For John Kisakye, a parent who uses MoMo, the convenience means he can make a payment without rearranging his day. “Sometimes you are at work and you need to make a school-fees payment. With MoMo, I can do it immediately without having to travel to the school or bank. It saves me time,” he said. The convenience also comes with an added layer of security. Parents do not have to withdraw and carry large amounts of cash to school, reducing the risk of losing money along the way. There is also less paperwork. Traditionally, a parent paying through a bank might have to keep the deposit slip and take it to the school so that the payment can be verified and the child's account updated. With MoMo School Pay, the payment is captured digitally, allowing the school to see the transaction and identify the student whose fees have been paid. Jones Nekesa, who also uses MoMo to pay school fees, said this has made the process less cumbersome. “I like the fact that I do not have to carry a bank slip to school after making the payment. Once I pay, I have the transaction on my phone and the school can also see that the payment has been made,” she said. …