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Image of scholar transport.
The Free State Department of Education has introduced an electronic survey system to monitor learner transport operators across the province.
The system allows school principals to submit weekly reports on punctuality, vehicle compliance, permits and safety issues such as overcrowding and speeding.
With over 150 operators transporting nearly 10 000 thousand learners across more than 300 routes, the department says the system will help to improve safety and ensure reliable access to education, especially for farm school learners who travel long distances daily.
Department Spokesperson Howard Ndaba explains, “We’re calling on committee members, parents, to report to us if they suspect that there’s any, you know, transgression of the law, because this makes sure that they obey the laws of this country. Issues of speeding, issues of overcrowding, issues of having correct permits, professional, that PDP is very important. So, this form, which is not an app, but it’s an electronic survey form where we are monitoring the performance of these operators and we’re hoping that it will go a long way in making sure that our learners are safe.”
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