The Ministry of Education has confirmed that the Cabinet has approved a full subsidy for increased bus fares starting this month for students holding blue and yellow bus cards. In a statement, Minister Aseri Radrodro explained that blue card holders will receive a complete subsidy, while those with yellow cards will receive a 50 percent subsidy, alleviating financial pressure on parents.
Radrodro noted that students can continue to use their blue and yellow cards as they have been accustomed to doing. Starting today, blue card holders can redeem their bus cards, and the Ministry will directly transfer the 100 percent subsidy to Vodafone at the end of each month. For yellow card holders, the regular process of topping up by parents will continue, with the Ministry covering the 50 percent subsidy directly to Vodafone at the end of each month.
The Minister also clarified that restrictions on the usage of Blue Subsidised cards will remain in effect, including:
– Blue Cards will not work on school holidays and weekends.
– Usage is restricted to the following times: 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
– There is a 15-minute blackout period between taps for blue card users.