Transport Minister Daryl Vaz has drawn a hard line: every bus assigned to Jamaica’s new Rural School Bus Programme will clear safety retrofits before collecting a single student this September.
Where the rollout stands
| Item | Status | Key Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Buses already on the island | 52 units | As of July 31 |
| Buses fully retrofitted (door moved left) | 23 units completed | Ongoing |
| Additional buses in transit | 8 + 25 + 23 units | Depart Miami Aug 1, 8, 15 |
| First wave in service | 60 units | Start of school term, early Sep |
| Second wave | 40 units | Phased Oct – Dec |
Door relocation is mandated by the Island Traffic Authority and the Ministry; no exceptions are being entertained.
Network design
- 53 routes have already been engineered in consultation with local stakeholders.
- Once the second wave hits the road, the grid expands to 122 routes, forming the backbone of rural student mobility across 14 parishes.
Zero-compromise stance on safety
“Not one child will be put at risk for the sake of speed,” Vaz asserted, underscoring that each bus must meet full specifications before its first school run. Jamaica Observer
To reinforce that commitment, the ministry will stage a national prayer and commissioning ceremony, led by the Jamaica Council of Churches, covering every driver, mechanic, and operator involved.
Looking ahead
- Long-range objective: serve all 850 rural schools—over 650,000 students—by scaling the fleet beyond the initial 100 units. Jamaica Observer
- Contingency buffer: ten spare buses will remain off-route to absorb maintenance downtime and emergency needs.
Bottom line: With firm deadlines, phased logistics, and an unyielding safety threshold, the Rural School Bus Programme is on track to redefine how Jamaica’s countryside students reach the classroom—starting this September.
