Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth — Aberdeen High and Primary School in St Elizabeth recently took the grand prize, a 2017 Toyoto Hiace bus in the Toyota Jamaica Bus Di School competition.

School principal Prim Lewis said the vehicle was badly needed to assist students involved in extra-curricular activities.

“This bus is needed to take the students to various competitions and activities safely and cost effectively. This helps us to make another important step as we strive to be seen as a school of choice,” said Lewis.

In addition to the grand prize for Aberdeen, three other rural schools won cash awards towards school development programmes.

St Albans Primary & Infant School in Stanmore, Malvern St Elizabeth won $150,000 for placing second, while Garlogie Primary & Junior High in Banana Ground, Clarendon and Mannings Hill Primary in rural St Andrew each won $100,000 for placing third.

Tom Connor, managing director explained that Toyota Jamaica recognized the importance of having access to safe and reliable transportation as part of the education experience for students across the island.

“Bus Di School competition is an important programme for us as we are able to make a significant contribution to education which is a major challenge in Jamaica. Our area of expertise is transportation and as such assisting schools with this need was very fitting. Ensuring that our students can commute safely to and from school, also attend competitions, special events, along with other academic programmes are important to us,” he said.

“There are far too many stories of risky modes of transport that some schools have to rely on, and the unfortunate outcomes that result.”

Schools across the island were invited to submit their pitch for why they should win the Toyota Jamaica Bus Di School grand prize. The winner was selected by a combination of judging by a panel and a public vote of the schools’ proposals on the Toyota Jamaica Facebook page.