The smart card scheme, meant to partly cover students’ education-related expenses, should be improved, monitored and fine-tuned to curb inefficiencies, according to the University Students’ Council.

The costs of administering the scheme could be outweighing the benefits derived

The council called on the authorities to review and discuss the smart card system that was criticised by the National Audit Office in its annual report.

The report said that the smart card scheme for tertiary-level students was deemed “ineffective” and “the costs of administering the scheme could be outweighing the benefits derived”.

It criticised the “inadequate and unsatisfactory” monitoring of retail outlets accepting the smart card. The report said the scheme had to be reassessed.

The students’ council said that throughout the year it received “a huge amount” of queries regarding outlets that accepted the smart card as a means of payment.

These could not be answered because the smart card website had been inoperative for a long time. The council added there was no exhaustive list of refundable items.

It hoped the irregularities would be rectified as soon as possible as they would certainly taint the image of the smart card to the student’s detriment. “Such measures should be taken to protect the smart card system and its original goal, which is of being an indispensable tool that helps students finance their education,” the council said.