Excitement Builds in Western Jamaica Ahead of September Rural School Bus Programme Rollout

Excitement is building in western Jamaica following a recent familiarisation tour of new school buses in St. James.

The units are set for deployment this September, coinciding with the start of the 2025/26 academic year, under the Government’s Rural School Bus Programme.

Educators, local officials, and transport personnel who participated in the tour say the initiative will significantly improve student punctuality, safety, and access to schools, especially for children in remote and underserved communities.

Under the programme’s first phase, 110 buses are being introduced across 100 routes, serving 258 rural schools and benefitting approximately 328,000 students.

The fleet includes 32-seat, 54-seat, and 72-seat models, all equipped with air conditioning and safety features that meet international standards. A flat fare of $50 per trip will be charged, with 10 reserve units to ensure reliability.

Among those participating in the tour was Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, who expressed confidence in the Rural School Bus Programme and its long-term benefits for students and families across St. James.

“I’m very pleased to see the programme being rolled out in St. James and I have every confidence that this will significantly improve transportation in our municipality. It will cost the parents significantly less… to ensure that their children get to school on time.

“This will bridge that gap. It will ensure that students get to school, it will ensure that they perform because they get there in a comfortable way and they are able to focus in class,” he told journalists after the tour, which ended in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay.

The Mayor also praised the programme’s inclusivity, noting that the buses are designed to comfortably accommodate persons with disabilities.

“The Government is on track to achieving the development goals of this country to ensure that we have proper transportation system in place, that we have access to education and that persons can raise their families and feel good about their space,” he added.

Mayor Vernon noted that the familiarisation tour gave residents a valuable opportunity to interact first-hand with the buses, which traversed several suburban and rural sections of St. James during the tour.

For his part, Member of Parliament for St. James Central, Heroy Clarke, said the community’s response to seeing the buses has been overwhelmingly positive, adding “it tells you how excited the people are in Western Jamaica about this situation.”

He urged parents to ensure that, come September, their children are ready on time so the programme can operate smoothly and deliver its intended benefits.

“Once the children are out on time, the buses will be on time to take them to school or to the designated drop-off spot within the town limits,” he stated.

Acting General Manager of Montego Bay Metro Company Limited, Nashu Lelievre, explained that the new fleet will support and expand existing routes served by the entity in western Jamaica.

“Currently, Montego Bay Metro serves 10 school routes in western Jamaica. We go as far as Trelawny, St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland. When the additional buses are retrofitted, they will be dispatched to the western parishes. Metro will continue to serve the 10 school routes we currently have in existence, along with the additional school buses coming from the JUTC to serve additional schools,” he further indicated.

Mr. Lelievre advised that route scheduling and frequency details will be finalised in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, and the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information.

Meanwhile, Principal of Corinaldi Avenue Primary School in Montego Bay, St. James, Deon Stern-Anglin, said the programme will go a long way in improving attendance and reducing tardiness among students in the parish.

“I’m feeling excited, I’m feeling great. Can’t wait until September… to see this [undertaking] really roll out and that the children are on [the buses] and getting to school safely,” she stated.

Having driven in one of the buses herself—alongside several of her students during the tour—Mrs. Stern-Anglin gave the programme a strong endorsement.

“I had to test what my students are going to be a part of. It’s very comfortable and it’s very safe for the children,” she stated.

The Principal also highlighted how the programme could help address one of the school’s major challenges.

“Most of the time, students coming to school late is one of our drawbacks. So having a school bus to support the children makes me feel more assured that this will work out,” she emphasised.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Stern-Anglin described the initiative as an investment in national development.

“If we are looking at our future, looking forward, we know that we have to plan and prepare for our nation’s children. This will help us continue to build them [up],” she said

The Rural School Bus Programme is part of the Government’s broader thrust to improve student safety, reduce absenteeism, and promote punctuality and discipline.

With the full rollout set for the start of the 2025/26 academic year, communities across the island are preparing for a transformation in how children get to school—safe, supported, and ready to learn.