New transport arrangements for students sitting for SC and HSC exams

In a press statement, yesterday (Saturday 20 March), in Port Louis, the Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo, detailed the transport arrangements in the context of the COVID-19 situation and the national lockdown for students sitting School Certificate (SC) and Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations, with a view to enabling them to reach the exam centres on time.

  • Public and private operators will resume services across the country as from Monday 22 March 2021 to Tuesday 30 March 2021, solely for students
  • Buses will operate from 05:00 am along every normal routes, with exceptional measures for the towns and villages situated in Constituencies 15, 16 and 17.
  • Regarding the red zone situated within the boundaries of Constituencies 15, 16 and 17, students should wait on their usual bus station or bus stand for buses displaying the required sticker of Examination Bus.
  • Students, who may be accompanied by one parent, should produce their Student Identity Card and their respective examination timetable to avail of the free bus transport facility. They are advised to wear their school uniform to allow for easy identification.
  • Parents and students are invited to behave in a responsible manner and to be on time for their respective bus. Everyone should wear their face masks, maintain social distancing, and use hand sanitisers regularly. Dedicated buses would convey the students and these vehicles would be cleaned and disinfected regularly.
  • Invigilators and non-teaching staff will be authorised to travel in those buses provided they present their letter of appointment. There will be a bus conductor in each bus to ensure each and every one abide to all requirements.
  • A hotline on 8923 will be operated, as from 22 March 2021, by representatives of the Police Force, the National Land Transport Authority (NLTA), the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, and the Mauritius Examination Syndicate to provide information, receive complaints, and support parents.
  • These new transport arrangements supersede the preliminary and exceptional bus routing proposed by NLTA, after some 2 000 suggestions and comments have been received from parents and students. The updated arrangements have been worked out by all stakeholders including the Ministry of Land Transport, the NLTA, the Police, and the National Transport Corporation with the collaboration of private bus operators.
  • The transport arrangements will be reviewed within the coming week to adjust for the upcoming National Certificate of Education (NCE) examinations, which have been rescheduled because of the lockdown. Other transport planning requirements will be devised and communicated.
  • Arrangements put in place for the students are over and above the skeleton bus service in operation along major routes on a restricted basis for other passengers, namely key workers.