ARMY’S ANGELS INTEGRATED SCHOOL, INC.
Blk 24 Lots 2-4 Salazar St. Central Signal Village, Taguig City
The Implementation of Canteen Smart Card at Army’s Angels
Integrated School, Inc.
Researchers:
Abido, Anabelle C.
Baal, Jay Vincent P.
Beo, Geraldine
Cervales, John Matthew B.
Fernandez, Kerwin D.
Paraan, Miguel Victor A.
Paramio, Mark Vince S.
Rivilla, Carlos Benedict O.
Sagun, Nicole G.
Ms. Armeeh Micah Tumamao
Research Adviser
March 2025
CHAPTER I
The Problem and Its Background
Introduction
In today's digital world, some school canteen transactions still rely on cash,
this can lead to lost money, long lines, and inconvenience. The lack of proper
management and organization in cafeterias can cause extended wait times, leading to
frustration for students with tight schedules, additionally, the absence of clear expense
tracking makes it difficult for students to plan and manage their meal budgets (Benagga
& Kafi, 2023). Break time at school only lasts for 30 minutes, and after that, students are
required to return to class for the next period. Some students even choose not to buy
foods during break time because they know they will have to wait in long lines with
many other students. Others need to review during break time, and as a result, when
they get hungry, they prefer not to buy food because they are aware of the prolonged
waiting times, which waste their time they could be using to study or do other things.
Furthermore, the process of retrieving money from wallets adds to the delay, as some
students only retrieve money after deciding what to purchase, and sometimes there are
issues with prices that exceed their allotted budget. This yields long queues and slow
transactions, and due to the large number of students buying food, the staff often
rushes to serve, causing mistakes in providing the right food or school materials, giving
change, and even pricing items. Peng (2021) states that the adoption of canteen smart
cards has improved school canteen efficiency by improving security, ensuring accurate
transactions, and promoting financial transparency, as an RFID-based system
processes orders within seconds, and reducing queues.
A canteen smart card system offers a more efficient and secure way for
students to purchase snacks and school materials, these reloadable cards, which uses
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, eliminate the need for carrying cash,
making transactions faster and reducing the risks of theft or misplacement. School
canteen smart cards offer a secure, cashless payment system, streamlining purchases,
enhancing security, and improving financial transparency for students and schools
(Allxs, 2025). Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology allows contactless
transactions, meaning students only need to tap their cards at a reader, as Radio
Frequency Identification systems use electromagnetic fields to transfer data between a
tag or smart card and a reader without the need for physical contact. RFID tags contain
microchips that store data which is transmitted to a reader, these cards help students
develop better financial management skills by allowing them to monitor their spending.
Studies have shown that implementing a canteen smart card can bring significant
improvements to a school's operations, enhancing transaction speed, security, and
overall convenience (Espinosa, R. J. R., Lumibao, A. L. T., Zerrudo, C. Y. P., & Intal, G.
L., 2021). This study will focus on the students of Army's Angels Integrated School, Inc.
(AAIS), as they will be the primary users of the canteen smart card system, the research
will take place within the school, ensuring that data is collected in a real-world setting
where the system will be implemented, and respondents will be selected from grade 11
students.
Considering the issues mentioned, the researchers decided to conduct a
research study about how using a canteen card can lead to a notable increase in the
speed of transactions at the canteen. The research aims to evaluate how a canteen
smart card can improve canteen operations and overall student convenience at Army's
Angels Integrated School, Inc. (AAIS) by analyzing its benefits, and exploring how it
enhances the transaction process for students and canteen staff. This study also seeks
to offer suggestions for system improvements to enhance students' experiences while
exploring its effects on students, canteen employees, and administrative staff. By
understanding the effectiveness of the smart card system, which uses Radio Frequency
Identification technology in streamlining transactions and managing canteen operations,
this research will provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of adopting digital
payment solutions in schools.
Objectives
To create a Canteen Smart Card.
To implement a Canteen Smart Card.
To enhance the efficiency of school canteen transactions with a Canteen Smart
Card with RFID technology.
Statement of the Problem
The research methodology for evaluating the implementation, efficacy, and
challenges of a smart card system in an educational setting. The research aims to
assess the system's impact on transaction speed and efficiency, identify user issues,
evaluate its reliability and security, and measure student satisfaction. It proposes
improvements to enhance the system's overall effectiveness.
1. How can a canteen smart card be created?
2. How can a canteen smart card be implemented?
3. How does the implementation of a canteen smart card with RFID technology
enhance the efficiency of school canteen transactions?
Significance of the Study
The research study on the implementation of a canteen smart card system at
Army’s Angels Integrated School, Inc. will serve as a foundation for other studies and be
beneficial to the following groups:
STUDENTS. They can benefit from this research by using it as a resource for their
review of related studies, when they pick a topic similar to ours. They can use this as a
reference with proper citation.
CANTEEN EMPLOYEES. This study will help canteen employees by making
transactions smoother, minimizing mistakes, and boosting the overall efficiency of
canteen operations. This will allow them to spend less time on accounting tasks and
more time focusing on customer service.
ADMINISTRATORS. This research will help administrators manage the canteen more
efficiently. Improved pricing and profit maximization will be possible with the use of sales
and stocks.
FUTURE RESEARCHERS. They can benefit from this study, as they can rely on our
research on how the canteen smart card improves transaction speed. This study serves
as a foundation for further exploration, enabling researchers to investigate the impact of
smart cards on enhancing cafeteria transactions and overall efficiency.
Scope and Delimitation
This research study focuses on the implementation of a canteen smart card
system at Army's Angels Integrated School, Inc. (AAIS). It aims to evaluate how the use
of canteen smart card with RFID technology in canteen transactions can enhance
operational efficiency and overall student convenience. The study will be collecting data
in a school setting during school hours, it will analyze the benefits of the smart card
system. The study is limited to the students at AAIS and does not include other grades
or schools. The research will be conducted only within the school environment, focusing
on the canteen's operations and student experiences with the smart card system.
Factors such as external influences on student behavior or financial management
practices outside the school context will not be explored. Additionally, the study will not
delve into the technical aspects of RFID technology implementation but will primarily
assess user experience and operational efficiency related to the canteen transactions.
Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis = The canteen smart card with RFID technology does not bring
noticeable improvements in streamlining transactions and enhancing the efficiency of
canteen operations.
Alternative Hypothesis = The canteen smart card with RFID technology brings
noticeable improvements in streamlining transactions and enhancing the efficiency of
canteen operations.
Conceptual Framework
This study aims to examine the impact of implementing a smart card system in the
canteen. The researcher uses the Input-Process-Output (I-P-O) model as a framework for the
study, which includes:
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
1. Create a 1. System Design
Canteen Smart
2. The
Card.
Implementation
Implementatio
2. Implement a of the Canteen
Canteen Smart Smart Card n of Canteen
Card Smart Card at
3. Evaluation and
Army’s
3. Assess the Assessment
Angels
experiences of
students Integrated
regarding the School, Inc.
implementation
of a Canteen
Smart Card.
Definition of Terms
To ensure clarity and accuracy in understanding the findings and discussions of this
study, the following terms are defined based on their operational meanings:
Contactless Transactions. A method of payment made without swiping or inserting a card or
using cash.
Electromagnetic fields. lnvisible forces that allow RFID tags to communicate wirelessly with a
reader, enabling contactless transactions.
Financial Management skills. The student's ability to effectively monitor and control their
spending, make budget-conscious choices, and manage personal funds.
Microchips. Acts as a digital storage device of student account details and balance, and allows
users to pay via canteen smart card, with the help of Radio Frequency Identification technology.
Radio Frequency Identification. Technology that uses radio waves to identify and track objects
wirelessly via attached tags containing microchips.
Reader. A device that enables contactless transactions by receiving data from the microchip in
the smart card via electromagnetic fields when a student taps the card.
Reloadable Cards. Are prepaid cards that allow you to add money to them as needed, making
them a convenient alternative to traditional cash payment.
RFID-based system. Contactless payment technology that uses RFID tags and readers to enable
fast, and cashless transactions.
RFID Tags. A wireless identification and tracking technology using radio waves.
CHAPTER II
Review of Related Literature and Studies
This chapter presents the Local and Foreign Related Literature and Studies
that provide insights into the implementation of canteen card systems. These references
will support and further elaborate on the research study titled The Implementation of
Canteen Smart Card at Army’s Angels Integrated School, Inc.
Local Literature
The adoption of RFID-based cash card payment systems in Philippine schools
is improving payment efficiency and security. A study by Abbas, A. A., Gamit, K. C., &
Legaspi, A. J. (2021) from Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila introduced a
unified RFID payment system for school libraries, canteens, and bookstores, finding that
it enhanced transactions, improved financial tracking, and reduced cash-handling risks
for students. While the system offers simplicity, challenges such as implementation
costs and user adoption remain, requiring schools to ensure proper security measures
and educate users on its advantages. Despite these challenges, RFID-based payment
systems streamline transactions, support better financial management, and minimize
CRITERIA
Criteria Excellent (20-18 pts) Proficient (17-15 Developing (14-12 Needs Score
pts) pts) Improvement (11-
0 pts)
Clarity of The research problem The research The research The research
Research is clearly stated, well- problem is clear but problem is problem is unclear,
Problem (20 defined, and could be more somewhat vague or poorly stated, or
pts) significant. It is concise or refined. lacks precision. lacks relevance. /20
specific, researchable, Minor gaps in Some difficulty in Does not align with
and aligned with the significance. justifying its research
study’s objectives. importance. objectives.
Updated The review includes Review includes Some sources are Literature is
Review of highly relevant, recent studies but outdated (pre- outdated, lacks
Literature updated (2021- may have minor 2021), lack relevance, or is
and Studies present) studies and gaps in relevance, relevance, or are mostly unrelated. /20
(20 pts) literature. Sources are citation accuracy, or poorly synthesized. Major issues in
credible, properly synthesis. Limited citation citation and
cited, and well- accuracy. synthesis.
synthesized.
Alignment of All research Minor Some Research parts are
Research components inconsistencies in misalignments disorganized,
Parts (20 (background, the alignment of between research inconsistent, or
pts) objectives, questions, some research components, poorly connected. /20
significance, RRL) are parts. Logical flow affecting coherence Lacks logical flow.
well-aligned and is mostly and logical flow.
logically connected. maintained.
No inconsistencies.
Proper Follows the required Mostly follows the Formatting is Does not follow the
Formatting format (APA) required format with inconsistent, with required format.
(20 pts) consistently. Citations, minor multiple errors in Many errors in
references, headings, inconsistencies in citations, citations, headings, /20
and structure are citations, headings, references, or and structure.
correctly applied with or references. structure. Needs
no errors. improvement.
Mastery of The presenter The presenter Limited Lacks mastery;
the Study demonstrates a deep shows good understanding of unable to explain
Presented understanding of the understanding, but the study; struggles key aspects of the
(20 pts) study, confidently responses to with explanations study or answer /20
explains key concepts, questions may lack and answering questions properly.
and answers depth or questions.
questions effectively. confidence.
Total Score /100
Comments:
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