KINGSTON, Jamaica —Minister of Education, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, is urging parents to ensure that their children are in possession of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) card that will enable them to continue riding the rural school buses after February 1.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz has warned that students without the card, and those whose card has not been topped up, will not be allowed to board the buses.

Morris Dixon appealed to parents to make sure their children will be able to continue riding the buses as she revealed in the Senate on Friday that over 7,000 students have so far signed up for the card. She said guidance counsellors have been assisting with registering students for the smart card.

Morris Dixon was responding to a question from Government Senator Christian Tavares-Finson about the number of students who have so far signed up.

“The rural school bus system has been working. I know there was some opposition to it but now I think our children have embraced it, our parents have embraced it.

“It’s a great piece of {Government] policy and our students love it and it has helped their parents,” Morris Dixon remarked.

“But, on February 1, you now need your card to go on the school bus,” she added.

The education minister pointed to a major feature of the smart card, sharing that once it is swiped, a message is sent to the parent, indicating that their child has entered the bus. On exiting the vehicle, the student swipes again and the parent is notified that their child has arrived safely at school.

“This is actually something very good so that our parents know where their children are” said Morris Dixon. She reminded that the rides will no longer be free as of February 1 and will now cost $50 each way. This, she noted was far cheaper than the fares charged by taxi operators.