Bus service leaves Biche pupils behind

The Ministry of Education closed the school in February 2001 after complaints of a strong smell of gas. The school’s 235 pupils were relocated to Cuche Government School. Partap said yesterday the rural bus service was so inefficient, that hardly a week passes without several of the children being left back in Biche.

Partap has filed a motion in the House of Representatives on the matter. He said yesterday he intends to call on Education Minister Hazel Manning to account for her failure to provide transport for the school children which she promised parents.

“For the past month, parents of Biche have been up in arms over the failure of the bus to arrive to take the children to Cuche which is six miles away,” Partap said.

Partap referred to another transportation problem plaguing other villagers, who he said must make do with three 12-seater maxis to transport 58 secondary school students. The students, who are from Navet, Rio Claro and Mayaro villages, were assigned to the Cowen Hamilton Secondary School after the 2006 SEA examinations.

Partap said the three 12-seater maxis can only transport 36 students. Parents of the remaining 22 have been forced to foot the transport bill themselves, Partap said, at $25 per student. The parents have worked out a “voluntary plan” among themselves where 22 students would rotate in travelling at least twice per week, so the cost would be less burdensome. “At $25 a day per student,” Partap said, “that arrangement is proving to be a financial burden.”