Residents of Lalakoro in Seaqaqa are calling on authorities to take action after a Rural Services License (RSL) operator ceased to provide reliable transportation for students in their area. The situation has left ten students attending Vunimanuca Primary School facing unsafe travel conditions, forcing them to rely on cane trucks for transport to the school, which is approximately three kilometers away.
Parent Zibran Hussein expressed concern that the lack of RSL services is jeopardizing the safety of the students. “The main issue for us here in Lalakoro is that the RSL is not picking up our students. Now we have to take them on a cane truck, and it’s always a risk if something happens to them. We don’t have a car, only a cane truck, so the students sit at the back,” he said.
The complaints underline broader concerns about child safety and equal access to education, as 26 students from nearby communities continue to benefit from RSL services while those from Lalakoro are left without transportation. With the new school year beginning, parents are anxious for a swift resolution to the problem to ensure their children can attend school safely.
Another parent, Ilisabeta Wati, voiced her worries about the risks involved in allowing children to walk long distances through cane fields and agricultural areas. “It’s quite a distance from here to the school, and it is surrounded by cane fields. If I let them walk, there is always that fear that something could happen to them, so sometimes it’s better not to send them to school,” she explained.
The RSL operator reportedly suspended services after parents raised concerns about their children waiting nearly two hours daily for a pickup. The delays were attributed to the operator trying to accommodate six other communities along the same route. The Ministry of Education’s Transport Officer has referred the matter to the Land Transport Authority (LTA); however, action can only be taken to appoint a new transport operator once the current license is surrendered.
The ongoing situation highlights the critical need for reliable transportation solutions for the children of Lalakoro, and residents remain hopeful for a prompt intervention that ensures their safety and access to education. FBC News has reached out to the LTA for further comments on the matter.
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