Parents and teachers at Naitasiri High School are urging the government to step in and improve transportation safety after a recent accident that nearly resulted in tragedy for 18 students and two parents.
Semi Tamanivalu, whose child faced a similar incident last year, emphasized the need for better oversight of transport services in the highlands, particularly for students. He pointed out that this accident marks the second occurrence involving the same transport provider that serves six villages in the Naitasiri region.
Just a week prior, another incident occurred with students traveling to school in the same vehicle, raising concerns over the reliability and safety of the transport arrangements.
Vatiri Dimoala Lutua, a passenger in the carrier during the latest accident, vividly recounted the traumatic experience, describing scenes of blood and the distress of injured students. She reflected on how students had been looking forward to a routine school day, including Year 11 students eager to complete their final exam paper.
Ms. Lutua expressed her deep emotional response to the accident, recalling her struggle to assist the students in the aftermath. She noted the presence of injuries among the children, with one senior student requiring transfer to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital for treatment.
“It’s painful to witness such suffering, especially knowing this is not the first time,” she lamented, hoping that this would be the last incident involving this particular carrier and location in Navuniyasi.
This tragic event highlights the critical need for safe transport solutions for students in rural areas, an issue that deserves immediate attention from the government and local authorities. It’s essential that measures are put in place to prevent such accidents in the future and to ensure that students can travel to school safely.
The hope lies in community action and government response, which can help avert further accidents and support a safer environment for the young learners in Naitasiri.
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