Economy

Lobby seeks special school bus licence category to boost learner’s safety

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School administrators want a special licence category for vehicles transporting learners to boost their safety while in transit.

Currently, school buses are categorised as public service vehicles (PSVs) by the National Transport Safety Authority.

“We are working towards a separate classification of school buses so that we can ring fence some of the safety measures for school buses,” Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) National Chairperson Mutheu Kasanga said.

She argued that re-classification would allow them to redesign buses to suit learners in different grades or classes.

“At the moment, we make them (buses) at one standard, which is usually an adult standard. Once the bus is registered, we are able to retrofit it for smaller babies,” she said.

This, KPSA said, would seal loopholes where public service vehicle operators convert their vehicles into school vans and buses, risking lives of students.

In 2017, Kenya rolled out a special tourism service vehicle licence (TSV) in line with the National Transport and Safety Authority Act, 2012. The law provides for a separate and distinct tour operator’s licence.

“The licence will help streamline the sector, promote professionalism and create a level playing field in which investors can compete fairly,” said Fred Kaigua, Kenya Association of Tour Operators chief executive officer.

This comes after NCBA Bank signed a new financing deal with Isuzu East Africa to meet school transport demand amid the coronavirus social distancing rules.

Under the deal, private schools will enjoy up to 72-months repayment period.