Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Vouchers not cash to be used in Fiji’s free bus fare scheme

Posted at 21:25 on 03 January, 2010 UTC

About 71 and a half thousand children will qualify for Fiji’s free school bus fare scheme this year.

And instead of handing out cash, as was the practice last year, students will receive bus vouchers.

The Fiji Times says a special committee set up to look into the scheme decided that only students whose parents’ collective salaries were less than US$8,000 would receive assistance.

The committee also decided that the scheme would only apply within an 18km distance or three stages of fares.

Permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Colonel Pio Tikoduadua, said that in order to qualify for the vouchers, parents would have to fill out application forms and provide proof of income level.

The scheme is expected to benefit 490 schools on Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Levuka, Taveuni and Rotuma.