Students from communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and Upper East Bank Demerara will benefit from improved transportation following the addition of two buses to the existing school transportation fleet.
The buses were officially handed over to the Region Four Education Department on Friday by Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, during a ceremony held at the Yarrowkabra Secondary School compound.
The additional buses will support the transportation of students attending Friendship Secondary, Soesdyke Secondary, Yarrowkabra Secondary, Dora Secondary and Kuru Kuru Primary schools.
The intervention forms part of the government’s commitment to improving access to education in rural communities, particularly along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, where the growing school population has increased the demand for reliable transportation.
Addressing the gathering, Minister McCoy described the handover as a significant investment in the education and well-being of children.
“This [handing over] is yet another instalment of our investment in our children of Guyana, in the children that reside on the Upper East Bank and the Soesdyke-Linden Highway,” the minister stated.
He explained that while the provision of two buses may appear to be a relatively simple intervention, its importance should not be underestimated, especially by families who have experienced difficulties accessing dependable transportation.
“It seems very simple, but many of us here can actually point to the factual reality of the absence of such resources in times past,” Minister McCoy remarked.
The minister noted that reliable transportation would not only reduce the difficulties associated with travelling to school but also encourage punctuality, discipline and consistent attendance.
McCoy also urged students, drivers and school administrators to take responsibility for maintaining the buses, stressing that public resources must be properly managed to ensure their continued benefit to the communities they serve.
Special emphasis was placed on road safety, with the minister calling on drivers to observe speed limits and exercise caution when transporting children. He also encouraged students to speak up respectfully if they observe unsafe driving practices.
“We want your lives to be preserved and to be protected to be part of this great country that we are building,” he told the students.
Beyond the immediate benefits of the buses, McCoy encouraged students to take advantage of the expanding educational and employment opportunities emerging across Guyana.
He pointed to ongoing developments in technology, digital transformation and education as areas that would create new possibilities for young people pursuing higher studies and meaningful careers.
The minister also reminded those gathered that community development requires collective responsibility, noting that parents, teachers, religious organisations, local authorities and other stakeholders all have important roles to play in supporting children.
He stressed that government investments are made on behalf of citizens and should therefore be treated as shared community assets.
“While you may not have specifically expended your own monies to procure them, they are procured on your behalf and for your benefit, and therefore they belong to you,” he said.
Two more buses are expected to be added to the fleet in the coming months, further expanding transportation services for students in the highway communities.