Bus fare too high for school children

It is not only adults feeling the pinch as several school children spoke out against the rise in bus fare today.

Nazaria Brathwaite, a sixth form student at The Lodge School in Society, St John, said there was hardly ever a school bus for them so they had to resort to catching those to College Savannah, but they were also scarce.

She said some parents could only afford to give their children $10, and if they had to spend that to travel on the vans and minibuses, they would have to go hungry.

In Fairchild Street, a group of stranded Springer Memorial students said they were put off their school bus because it was full and were waiting until when another came. They could not afford to catch a van.

Today is the first day back at school after the Hilary term holiday for thousands of school children, many of whom have opted to ride free on the Transport Board buses after bus fares were increased from $2 to $3.50 in this year’s Budget. (CA)

Below: Getting to school is a challenge for Alleyne School students.