THERE is no clear national policy regulating vehicles that take pupils to school, the Department of Transport told Parliament.
Acting chief director of transport analysis, Ngwako Makaepea, released the "proposed national scholar transport policy" to the portfolio committee on transport yesterday.
The policy wants school principals and school governing bodies to identify pupils between Grade R and Grade 12 who live more than 3km from school.
"The Department of Transport will provide subsidies to all qualifying scholars in dedicated transport and in mainstream public transport," Makaepea said.
The policy was drawn up after almost four years of research, which found that 16million pupils attend school.
Of these, 76percent (12,1million) walk to school.
KwaZulu-Natal has the highest percentage of walkers.
About 560000 of young kids walk more than one hour each way to school, Makaepea said.
Only 13percent of pupils use return public transport to school.
The new policy also says the department must set up an office to register and license all vehicles that take pupils to school.
"Provincial departments of transport are to ensure that scholar transport services are procured through tender processes required by government legislation," Makaepea said.
He said challenges the country faced was that there were many unroadworthy vehicles, unlicensed drivers, and illegal operators transporting pupils.
Parents whose kids use unsafe "contracts" (taxis) to get to school are sure to be pleased about the new policy.
But MPs said they were concerned that no date had been set for implementing the policy.
Government to help pupils who walk to school daily
THERE is no clear national policy regulating vehicles that take pupils to school, the Department of Transport told Parliament.
Acting chief director of transport analysis, Ngwako Makaepea, released the "proposed national scholar transport policy" to the portfolio committee on transport yesterday.
The policy wants school principals and school governing bodies to identify pupils between Grade R and Grade 12 who live more than 3km from school.
"The Department of Transport will provide subsidies to all qualifying scholars in dedicated transport and in mainstream public transport," Makaepea said.
The policy was drawn up after almost four years of research, which found that 16million pupils attend school.
Of these, 76percent (12,1million) walk to school.
KwaZulu-Natal has the highest percentage of walkers.
About 560000 of young kids walk more than one hour each way to school, Makaepea said.
Only 13percent of pupils use return public transport to school.
The new policy also says the department must set up an office to register and license all vehicles that take pupils to school.
"Provincial departments of transport are to ensure that scholar transport services are procured through tender processes required by government legislation," Makaepea said.
He said challenges the country faced was that there were many unroadworthy vehicles, unlicensed drivers, and illegal operators transporting pupils.
Parents whose kids use unsafe "contracts" (taxis) to get to school are sure to be pleased about the new policy.
But MPs said they were concerned that no date had been set for implementing the policy.
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