Two weeks after Government provided free bus fares for students, the Education Ministry has now finalised the number of students and schools that are assisted under this benevolent scheme.
More than half of secondary school students and about a third of primary school students have been and will continue to be assisted under this program.
Altogether, 421 primary schools and 136 secondary schools have submitted their data on students who travel to school by bus.
Schools have now accustomed themselves to the distribution of students’ fares and they have worked out efficient and effective ways to give students their bus fares.
Officers of the Ministry are working tirelessly to ensure funds are distributed to schools in a timely manner.
Moreover, the Ministry’s Accounts Section has now begun auditing school reports on the bus fare disbursement, while the 4 Education Divisions and 9 Education Districts will monitor and carry out spot checks on how schools have been organising themselves with regards to students’ bus fares.
As from this week, monitoring will be carried out on a daily basis and schools are expected to submit their daily reports to Headquarters. This will ensure that every dollar and cent is accounted for, as the Ministry will not tolerate any form of abuse on this assistance for students.
Finally, the Ministry would like to reiterate its earlier call to teachers that any form of dishonest practice on the disbursement and recording of bus fares will be dealt with severe disciplinary measures.