Transport Minister, Daryl Vaz, while speaking at Wednesday’s post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House says plans are in place to implement a rural school bus system.

This he said is to alleviate some of the challenges faced by students who attend schools far from their homes.

Minister Vaz said a draft term of reference has already been developed and that the system will be designed to ensure thorough supervision of students on buses.

He added that it will be a “safe, secure, efficient transport system for rural students” while pointing out that the initiative can be a major driver of behaviour change among the students.

Then explained that the system “Can operate in two ways, publicly owned buses as well as franchise services. All drivers and conductors would be thoroughly vetted and trained in youth-friendly approach, violence prevention [and] order enforcement”.

Vaz says consultations will be done with education stakeholders soon.