Gov't committed to implementing rural school bus system

The Government has reiterated its commitment to provide a transportation system for students in rural Jamaica this year. 

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, in delivering the Throne Speech this morning, noted that reliable transportation is a key element for a peaceful, productive and prosperous society.

He said the Public Passenger Transport Stakeholder Committee will begin to address the provision of transportation for rural students in the new financial year. 

“A rural student transportation system will be introduced that will provide a more affordable alternative for the students in rural Jamaica who do not now benefit from the transportation subsidies that are available in the KMTR (Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region) through the JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transit Company),”  he said. 

A Gleaner probe into the state of transportation for students four years ago, revealed that rural-area schoolchildren are constantly brutalised while using the public transportation system.

It found that the transportation system in rural areas was inadequate and discriminated against schoolchildren, made them late for school, left them emotionally unprepared for school, and often affects students' ability to engage in after-school or extracurricular activities.

Additionally, it found that rural-area students also pay much higher fares than Corporate Area children who use the Jamaica Urban Transit Company buses. For rural students, fares range from $200 to $600 per day, depending on which school the child attends.

In November last year, Minister of Transport Daryl Vaz indicated that the Government will be launching a pilot programme for the rural transportation system for students early this year. 

“My intention is no later than the first quarter of next year, which is January to March, we should be in a position to roll out a pilot, and more details will become available but it is a top priority. It has to be done right and it has to be done in collaboration with the existing bus, taxi operators, private sector and, of course, the government agencies and ministries,” he said at the time. 

-Sashana Small 

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