For the past month, children in Cogea have been walking roughly a kilometre to reach the nearest roadside where they can catch transport to school. Village headman Rusiate Senicevuva attributed this to the lack of a rural service vehicle provider.
“The students, many from remote villages in Cogea, have had to adjust their daily routines to accommodate the long walk,” he explained. Mr. Senicevuva noted that the children leave their homes early in the morning to ensure they arrive at school on time.
“While the walk isn’t extremely long, it’s challenging due to weather conditions and the lack of proper paths in some areas,” he added. Mr. Senicevuva expressed his concerns about the difficulty of seeing the children endure this daily journey.
“The journey is especially tough during the rainy season when the roads become muddy and slippery,” he said, explaining that during such weather, some students arrive late while others miss classes entirely. “When students are late or miss school, it impacts their learning and overall performance.”
Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Selina Kuruleca stated that every rural service vehicle provider must supply services to the routes they are authorized to cover. Ms. Kuruleca acknowledged the issue and assured that efforts are being made to address it.