Airtel Tanzania, in collaboration with CRDB Bank, has launched a new payment platform that enables customers to pay school fees directly from their Airtel Money accounts to their respective schools.
Speaking on the launch, Airtel Money Director, Mr. Andrew Rugamba, revealed that the innovative service is available to all schools banked with CRDB and using control numbers for school fee payments. This collaboration marks an important stride in the integration of telecom and banking services in Tanzania.
"Through Airtel Money, parents and guardians now have the convenience of paying their children's school fees in full or in part payments, as they desire," Rugamba said. He emphasized that the partnership has resulted in fully integrated platforms between Airtel Money and CRDB Bank, allowing school fee payments through the use of control numbers issued by the schools.
The new platform is already being utilized by over 150 schools, encompassing primary, secondary and higher learning institutions, further demonstrating the breadth of this initiative. Parents can now request control numbers from their children's schools to enable convenient and timely school fee payments throughout the academic year.
Mr. Rugamba asserted that this service epitomizes Airtel Tanzania's commitment to simplifying payments for its customers while pushing forward its digital inclusion strategy. "This aligns with the national agenda of achieving universal financial inclusion," he added.
Speaking in support of this innovative partnership, CRDB's Head of Consumer Banking, Mr. Stephen Adili, stated that the bank recognized the need to collaborate with one of Tanzania's largest telecom companies, Airtel, to deliver digital payment solutions to Tanzanians.
"Today, paying school fees through our bank's special control number not only saves time for Airtel and CRDB bank's customers but also enhances security and convenience during the payment process," said Mr. Adili. He further expressed hope that the collaboration would support the government's agenda of creating a digital inclusive economy, with a key focus on making financial services more accessible to a broader demographic.
The launch of this platform is a significant step towards accelerating digital financial inclusion in Tanzania, streamlining payments, and enhancing the overall educational experience for students, parents, and schools alike.