Rural school bus programme rolled out

Some 60 buses were deployed today in the roll-out of the National Rural School Bus Programme.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, along with Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon and Finance Minister Fayval Williams, was among those in attendance this morning to oversee the programme.

Our news team was at the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre, where commuting students were transported to the Papine Town Centre.

Students from Jamaica College, Ardenne High, and Mona High School, among others, rode the buses.

There have been concerns about the age and ability of the buses to traverse certain terrain in rural areas.

Several tests were conducted in the lead-up to the reopening of schools, the Transport Ministry had reassured.

The ministry says it will be monitoring the roll-out today across all routes.

Vaz says a review will be done on Friday and, if necessary, adjustments made before next Monday.

The schedule for the buses was posted by the relevant ministries prior to the start of today’s roll-out.

Some 200-plus schools are set to benefit from the bus programme.

The government said more schools will be added as more buses become operational.

It had indicated that $1.4 billion was spent to purchase 110 buses in the United States.

The cost includes parts for repairs and retrofitting the buses.

- Andre Williams

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.