The Turaga-ni-Koro of Vunitogoloa Village in Ra, Josefa Manakiwai says there are many parents and grandparents who are not well versed with the topping up of the bus fare cards and has suggested for the cards to be only used as boarding cards for students.
He says there should be no need to top up the cards.
While speaking at the budget consultation in Rakiraki, Manakiwai says some students are not able to liaise with their teachers and they may be shy as well.
He says students should be allowed to board the bus with the card without any funds.
Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the reason why there is a need to top up the cards is because they pay bus companies.
He says they pay about $24 million in a year to bus companies for the free bus fare scheme.
Sayed-Khaiyum says there were also cases in the past where parents were using their children’s cards and high school students were coming to towns in the night.
The Minister for Economy told Manakiwai that he understands what he is saying because it is a hassle however they have to come up with a scheme that can avoid these issues.
