The Ministry of Education has confirmed that the Cabinet has approved a full subsidy on bus fare increases starting this month for all students with blue and yellow bus cards.
Minister Aseri Radrodro stated that there will be a 100% subsidy for blue card holders and a 50% subsidy for yellow card holders, alleviating the financial burden on parents. Students are expected to continue using their blue and yellow cards as they have in the past.
From today, blue card holders can start redeeming their bus fares, with the Ministry handling the 100% subsidy payment directly to Vodafone at the end of each month. Yellow card holders will follow a similar process, where their parents will top up their cards, and the Ministry will contribute a 50% subsidy to Vodafone monthly.
Radrodro emphasized that current restrictions on Blue Subsidised card usage will still apply, which include:
– Blue cards are not usable on school holidays and weekends.
– There are specific restricted usage times for Blue Subsidised cards: 6:30 am to 9:00 am and 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm.
– A 15-minute blackout period is enforced between taps for Blue Card holders.