THE district representative for Cakaudrove-i-Vanua, Taia Colaitiniara, says many carrier drivers find it difficult to take students to school because the fares they receive are too low.
Mr Colaitiniara says drivers are paid only $1.80 for a student’s trip to school and back, but this hardly covers the cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance.
“It just doesn’t meet the expenses of the carrier owners,” he said.
Mr Colaitiniara said the distance from some villages to school was quite long and that the fare was too little to make the trips worthwhile.
“From the village to the school, they only allow $1.80 per child to go and return.”
He said that as a result of the low fare, one carrier did not run for two months; it affected about 20 to 30 students who could not go to school during that time.
“If transport stops, the students can’t go to school,” Mr Colaitiniara said.
“I went to talk with the Minister of Education. You’re right, we have to change that.” He said drivers needed to be paid fairly.
In response, Assistant Education Minister Iliesa Vanawalu said he would raise this concern with the ministry.
