The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) is calling for calm among all stakeholders as engagements with Public Scholar Transport Service Providers continue and processes to fulfil outstanding payments continue.
The department says it remains actively engaged with service providers in good faith to find an amicable and sustainable resolution to the matter.
“We reiterate our appeal for the uninterrupted provision of scholar transport services in the best interests of learners who depend on the programme for safe and consistent access to education,” the department said in a statement on Friday.
Earlier this week, the GDE acknowledged challenges currently affecting the province's Scholar Transport Programme, which has resulted in some service providers halting operations and negatively affecting learners.
In response to the disruptions experienced, schools have been advised to prepare for the implementation of academic recovery and catch-up programmes to mitigate learning losses and ensure that teaching and learning remain on track.
“Learner safety, access to education and overall well-being remain our highest priorities. We are fully cognisant of the strain this situation has placed on our communities.
“We will continue to engage all affected stakeholders constructively and remain confident that these engagements will lead to a resolution. We therefore appeal for calm as we work diligently within the required processes to conclude this matter,” said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, is today hosting the Provincial Scholar Transport Stakeholder Engagement Meeting at the Johannesburg City Hall.
The engagement serves as a platform to advance key discussions on shared responsibilities on learners’ safety, compliance enforcement, and addressing challenges faced by operators within the sector.
“Issues up for discussion include, amongst others, traffic laws and regulations; licensing backlog; restructuring initiatives and operational challenges faced by operators,” said the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport.
The scholar transport stakeholder engagements are also aimed at promoting safety, reliability while enhancing the quality service of scholar transport in Gauteng. – SAnews.gov.za
