**761 School Buses Cleared for New School Year**
As the new school year approaches, the Road Transport Department (TOM) has confirmed that a total of 761 school buses have successfully passed mandatory inspections and are ready to transport students across Cyprus. This announcement was made during a meeting of the House transport committee on Thursday, where it was also revealed that 40 buses failed to meet safety standards and will not be used for pupil transportation.
Giorgos Loukas, a representative from TOM, informed lawmakers that inspections for 442 buses were completed and approved by July, with an additional 319 buses passing inspections in August. The total number of buses required for school transport services is approximately 600, ensuring that adequate resources are available for the upcoming academic year.
Loukas emphasized that any buses still pending inspections would not be included in the school transport fleet until they received the necessary approvals. The inspections covered a range of critical safety aspects, including technical checks, fire safety compliance, driver permits, and other required documentation.
In a bid to maintain high safety standards, the TOM plans to conduct further unannounced inspections throughout September. Additionally, ten supervisors will be assigned to carry out surprise checks during the school year to ensure ongoing compliance with safety regulations.
Transport Minister Evie Tsolaki expressed satisfaction with the preparations made ahead of the school year, noting that representatives from various bodies involved in school transport were pleased with the measures implemented. She also addressed recommendations from the audit office regarding school bus safety, stating that issues raised had been effectively managed through the collaborative efforts of her predecessor, Alexis Vafeades, the ministry, and TOM.
The chairman of the House transport committee, Sotiris Ioannou, highlighted that the 761 buses cleared for operation had undergone both private and state inspections over the past three months, ensuring they possess the necessary documentation, including fire safety certificates. Disy MP Giorgos Karaiskakis reassured the committee that no bus failing to meet safety requirements would be permitted to transport students.
Akel MP Valentinos Fakondis pointed out that the discussions were framed by concerns raised in an audit office report, which identified shortcomings in school bus safety. He stressed the importance of prioritizing the safe transportation of students and encouraged pupils to show respect towards drivers and the buses.
Representatives from bus companies operating in various districts, including Nicosia, Famagusta, Larnaca, and Limassol, confirmed their readiness for the new school year, reporting that intensive efforts had been made to complete inspections during August. Pambos Kapnos, president of the Association of Tourist Coach Owners, noted that the 40 companies responsible for school transport services were prepared to begin operations. However, he raised concerns about incidents of misbehavior on school buses, which have included property damage, tampering with safety equipment, and even injuries to drivers. Kapnos called for more effective measures to address these issues.
Loizos Konstantinou, president of the Pancyprian Confederation of Parents’ Associations of State Secondary Schools, mentioned that only a small fraction of the approximately 25,000 pupils using school buses were responsible for rule violations. He suggested implementing measures such as identifying misbehaving students through CCTV footage or the deployment of supervisors, and proposed that parents be held financially accountable for damages caused by their children.
Concerns were also raised regarding passenger capacity on some buses. Pupils’ representative Despina Kyprianou highlighted that certain buses were carrying more passengers than their designated capacity. Loukas clarified that some buses are licensed to transport both seated and standing passengers, particularly on specific routes within towns, while buses designed for longer journeys provide seating for all passengers.
The urgency of ensuring safe school transport services was underscored by a report from the audit office in June, which revealed that over one-third of school buses had failed state inspections, with Famagusta experiencing the highest failure rate at 76%. In response to these findings, former transport minister Alexis Vafeades committed to ensuring that all school buses would be inspected before the start of the new school year in September, stating, “The goal is to inspect all the buses, to remove from service those which have not been properly maintained, and to place in service only those which meet the specifications.”
As the new academic year begins, the TOM and transport officials remain focused on maintaining the safety and efficiency of school transport services, ensuring that students can travel to and from school securely.