Operators of school buses can circulate, carrying students to and from school, without permits up to February 15, says the Ministerio de Transportes, for its inability to process all the applications.
According to the road transport and road safety, Rodrigo Rivera, last week alone the Public Transport Council received 2,800 requests.
Until February 15, school buses have to meet the legal requirement and the operator must provide proof of the application, failing they will be taken off the road and sanctioned, explained Rivera.
As of Friday, the ministry of Transport confirmed there were some 1.500 still to process at a rate of 150 applications per day on average.
Opinion: The 2013 school year began this past Wednesday. The start date of the school calendar is not a last minute decision, thus a responsible and sensible ministry, for the safety of school children across the country, would be better prepared: either require applications to be submitted earlier or provide more staff to process them.
This is just another example of the inefficiency of an important government agency and the lack of the current government to reform it. Another example of a tragedy to occur before anyone in authority takes action.
Parents are urged not to send their children in school vehicles that do not have the required permits – even if the application has been submitted. AND to inspect the school vehicle – with or without permit – to ensure the safety of their children.
