3 new school buses to ease transport strain for Region 6 students

Students across Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are set to benefit from improved access to education with the introduction of three new school buses, a move aimed at easing transportation challenges for those in riverain and far-flung communities while reducing the financial burden on parents. Regional Executive Officer (REO) Narindra Persaud said this is part of the Government’s continued efforts to ensure that students across the region are able to attend school without placing additional financial strain on their families. He noted that since the reintroduction of the cash grant, emphasis has also been placed on improving access to education, including transportation support where needed. Speaking at a recently held Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meeting, he explained that one of the buses has been assigned to Orealla, marking the first time the riverain community will benefit from a dedicated school transport service, while another will supplement an existing route serving students travelling from Yakasary to JC Chandisingh Secondary School.

The third bus will serve students from the Upper Corentyne, including those from Crabwood Creek, who currently travel long distances to attend schools such as Berbice High School and other institutions along the coast. The introduction of the additional buses is expected to significantly reduce travel time and transportation costs for students and their families, while improving attendance and punctuality, particularly for those residing in remote communities where access to reliable transport has long been a challenge.
Meanwhile, the issue of education delivery and support formed part of discussions at a recent meeting of the Regional Democratic Council’s Education Committee held in New Amsterdam. Despite the importance of the meeting, no councillors were in attendance. Nevertheless, the committee achieved a quorum and proceeded with its deliberations. During the RDC meeting, Regional Chairman Junior Basant spoke of the importance of councillors actively participating in committee meetings, stressing that such forums provide an opportunity not only to raise concerns but also to propose practical solutions. He urged members to come prepared with recommendations and courses of action that can lead to meaningful resolutions.
The committee also examined several issues affecting the education sector, including the need for enhanced student supervision and discipline, increased awareness programmes to address social challenges, and greater collaboration with law enforcement and community stakeholders. Discussions also touched on strengthening technical education, including support for specialised training programmes.