GOVERNMENT is exploring the option of providing free transportation to some schools as early as September as part of an initiative aimed at ensuring more children attend school, not only punctually, but regularly. Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir made the statement during an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday at the Ministry’s Water and Cornhill Streets Office.
He revealed that the project is a facet of the Tackling Child Labour through Education (TACKLE) programme and would be supported by the International Labour  Organisation (ILO).
The other two aspects of the government initiative are the provision of free uniforms to every school-aged child and meals.
“Apart from the uniform and school feeding programme, we are looking to go a step further because in some localities we have children who have to walk several miles to get to and from school,” Minister Nadir pointed out.
He said the ministry is currently exploring the option of arranging transportation for those children to boost their school attendance.
“We’ve had some discussion with the ILO principals in Geneva and they are very pleased with this initiative,” the Labour Minister stated.
He noted that the project will centre on Region Four but did not disclose the specific areas being targeted.
The Ministry of Education will identify those schools with very irregular attendance and low punctuality record, Minister Nadir remarked.
He mentioned that a similar project is being examined in Kwakwani, Region 10 but that would be managed by the residents of the waterfront students.
“They are looking to have a school bus that they would manage themselves because not only is it expensive to send children to school in Kwakwani Park, but there are other problems.”
Minister Nadir explained that the few buses which operate in the area prefer to carry adult passengers because of the economic advantage, leaving children with no alternative but to traverse the desolate trail to school.
The pilot project is scheduled to coincide with the commencement of the new school term in September, the Labour Minister said.
The Education Ministry has set a target to reduce the rate of high school leavers by half.  “So our children have to get to, and stay in school,” Minister Nadir said.
The Ministry of Education has found that school attendance is intricately linked to uniform assistance and the provision of meals which are catered for in this year’s budget.
This year, the ministry recommenced its school-feeding programme and is to provide uniforms to all school-aged children as part of government’s efforts to reduce non-attendance. Over 200, 000 students are to benefit.