National Rural School Bus Programme Drives 95 Per Cent Student Attendance Rate

Data from the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information show a marked improvement in student attendance, with rates rising to 95 per cent following the implementation of the National Rural School Bus System.

Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, Hon. Daryl Vaz, made the announcement during a press conference held on Tuesday (February 17) at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices.

He noted that the data also reflect improved punctuality at 90 per cent, student safety approaching 100 per cent, and a reduction in off-campus loitering by more than 10 per cent, emphasising that “these early indicators demonstrate the programme’s positive social impact”.

Minister Vaz said despite certain data limitations, operational observations indicate steady growth in ridership since the programme’s launch in September 2025, with increased utilisation consistently observed.

“As more routes became operational, additional buses were deployed, and public awareness and school-level coordination improved over the course of the term. Through sustained inter-Ministerial collaboration and stakeholder engagement, the programme continues its phased rollout towards delivering student-centred, reliable and inclusive transportation, ensuring that every learner, regardless of geographic location, can attend school safely and consistently,” he stated.

Buses operate between 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays.

“A total of 74 routes have been activated, serving over 340 schools; that is about almost 50 per cent of the schools. These routes were selected based on student demand, geographic need, and accessibility challenges in rural communities,” Mr. Vaz said.

Once fully implemented, the National Rural School Bus Programme is projected to benefit students requiring transportation support within a school population of 300,000, enrolled across 883 infant, primary, and secondary institutions in 13 parishes.

These include 604 rural schools, eight special education schools, and 271 underserved urban schools outside the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR).