KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC) is urging parents and guardians of children who use the rural school bus programme to register for the fare payment card ahead of the November 1, 2025 transition to a cashless system.

“The programme currently transports an average of 16,600 students daily, yet only about 4,900 have completed registration so far. With just a short time remaining before the transition, the JUTC is urging parents to register their children as soon as possible to avoid disruption in service,” the JUTC said.

The company, in a media release on Thursday, said since the inception of the programme, the service has been offered free of charge. However, beginning November 1, 2025, it will begin applying a fare for the service.

The electronic fare payment card is the only approved method of payment for the rural school bus, making the registration mandatory for all students who use the service.

Parents can complete registration online via https://jamaica-district.mysmartterm.com/bus-portal/registration.

Bus drivers will also distribute printed registration forms to students.

Parents are being asked to complete the forms and return them to the school’s principal or the designated administrative personnel assisting with the process.

JUTC said registration for the fare payment card will remain an ongoing process, as the company continues to expand and strengthen the rural school bus programme over the next two years.