Gujarat board schools in Ahmedabad are largely avoiding UPI for fee payments due to fears of fraud, low digital literacy, and difficulties in matching payments with student records.
When the City District Education Officer (DEO) surveyed schools, not a single Gujarat board school reported using UPI. Most still rely on cheques, cash, or bank transfers.
DEO R.M. Chaudhari said they sought details after a Lok Sabha query on fee collection methods, but no school responded with UPI usage.
School management members say scams and digital payment risks make cheques seem safer. Many principals also say parents have never demanded UPI options.
A few schools, like Shreyas School and Sheth CN Vidyalaya, have begun accepting UPI, with Shreyas reporting that 25% of parents use it. Even the GSHSEB office in Gandhinagar adopted UPI only recently.
Officials say one major challenge is identifying who made each payment, though new forms at student service centres may help streamline the process.