By: Problyn J. Alpha
The school buses provided by the Bio-led government to support the Free Quality School Education initiative in Kono District are expected to resume operations in the 2026/2027 academic year, following maintenance work currently being undertaken, according to the Chief Administrator of the Koidu New Sembehun City Council (KNSCC), Augustine Amara.
The provision of school buses across the country was aimed at improving pupils’ access to education by providing safe and reliable transportation to and from schools, while also creating employment opportunities for qualified drivers and conductors. However, concerns have been raised in some districts, including Kono, over challenges affecting the effective operation of the buses.
Residents of Koidu City who spoke to this medium expressed concern over the prolonged suspension of the buses, which they said had affected pupils who previously benefited from the service. They noted that when the buses were fully operational, issues such as lateness to school and pupils being involved in commercial motorbike-related road crashes were significantly reduced.
According to some residents, the buses initially operated smoothly within the Koidu municipality, partly due to support from the former Koidu Limited Mining Company management, which provided fuel for their daily operations. They argued that the absence of such support has made the sustainability of the service challenging.
The residents questioned why the buses remained out of operation for more than three months without clear communication from the council to the public and the direct beneficiaries. They also raised concerns about the management of revenue generated from the buses before their suspension, especially as fuel and maintenance were reportedly supported by the former mining company.
To clarify the situation, our correspondent contacted the Chief Administrator of Koidu New Sembehun City Council, Augustine Amara, seeking an interview on the matter.
Responding to the inquiry, the Chief Administrator stated: “The school buses will commence operations in the September 2026/2027 academic year. Currently, they are undergoing maintenance.”
However, when further asked to respond to concerns about the length of time the buses had remained grounded without public explanation and to provide more details on the maintenance process, the Chief Administrator did not respond up to press time.
The buses are currently parked at the Tankoro Police Divisional Headquarters for security and protection purposes.
The school buses provided by the Bio-led government to support the Free Quality School Education initiative in Kono District are expected to resume operations in the 2026/2027 academic year, following maintenance work currently being undertaken, according to the Chief Administrator of the Koidu New Sembehun City Council (KNSCC), Augustine Amara.
The provision of school buses across the country was aimed at improving pupils’ access to education by providing safe and reliable transportation to and from schools, while also creating employment opportunities for qualified drivers and conductors. However, concerns have been raised in some districts, including Kono, over challenges affecting the effective operation of the buses.
Residents of Koidu City who spoke to this medium expressed concern over the prolonged suspension of the buses, which they said had affected pupils who previously benefited from the service. They noted that when the buses were fully operational, issues such as lateness to school and pupils being involved in commercial motorbike-related road crashes were significantly reduced.
According to some residents, the buses initially operated smoothly within the Koidu municipality, partly due to support from the former Koidu Limited Mining Company management, which provided fuel for their daily operations. They argued that the absence of such support has made the sustainability of the service challenging.
The residents questioned why the buses remained out of operation for more than three months without clear communication from the council to the public and the direct beneficiaries. They also raised concerns about the management of revenue generated from the buses before their suspension, especially as fuel and maintenance were reportedly supported by the former mining company.