KINGSTON, Jamaica — Government’s pilot Rural Bus Transport System rolled out in Portland today commuting students from four communities to the Buff Bay Primary school.

“We have some four hundred students on the PATH programme and some sixty students from four areas, namely Bangor Ridge, Hope Bay, Cheapstowe and Dover involved in the pilot transportation programme,” Principal of Buff Bay Primary, Karl Coke, told OBSERVER ONLINE.

“The programme started with a few hitches as some students’ name was not on the list, for example two PATH students from the same home, but only one registered. We have been sorting this out as there is a budget to be complied with,” he added.

A list of the students who travel on the bus is provided to drivers who then check the names to ensure students are accounted for.

Students are picked up and arrive at school between 7:30 and 8 o’clock in the morning and leave school about 3:20 in the afternoon.

Oret Hartwell, who transports students from Hope Bay and Dover, welcomed the programme.

“I think it’s a good project but some students want to come on the bus although their name is not on the list and I have to see that those on the list are taken the school on time,” he said.

Education Minister Ruel Reid announced the rolling out of the programme last month saying that the pilot will initially target students on the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH).  

Students from 91 primary and secondary schools in eight parishes across the island will benefit from the pilot in the first phase. The parishes are St Thomas, Portland, St Mary, Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth, Hanover and St James.   

Clarendon and Portland are the only parishes to so far roll out the pilot.

Everard Owen