An artistic impression of a yellow school bus. [Photo/Teddy Eugene]
Parents will not shoulder the financial burden of repainting school buses, which should be done by 30th March 2018.
In a statement, the Ministry of Education clarified that part of the Sh29.5 billion the government released for the first term of free secondary education is substantial for use by schools to change the colors of the school buses to yellow as directed.
According to the Ministry of Education the Sh.22, 244 that each student receives under the Free Day Secondary education programme includes money that caters for Local Transport and Travel for students.
This vote covers school vehicle maintenance, repairs, fuels, travel as well as insurance. Painting of the vehicles is covered as part of routine maintenance.
The ministry further clarifies that the March 30, 018 deadline issued by Acting Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i is anchored in the Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2016 which requires all school buses to be painted yellow with the school’s name written in black.