Kelera Ditaiki 
[Photo: FILE]
Safety concerns remain for students who depend on boats to reach school, with questions raised over how these services are monitored in remote communities.
The Ministry of Education says school heads are responsible for ensuring boats are seaworthy, properly operated and that students are supervised during boarding and disembarking.
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro states that every boat operator must hold a valid Class Six Boatmaster Licence and have the required life-saving jackets and safety equipment.
Radrodro said school heads should also be keeping boat information updated on the FEMIS portal.
Student boat travel is also restricted to between 7am and 5pm.
The issue of transport payments was raised alongside concerns about operators serving students in places such as Wainimala, where children rely on boats to cross rivers to get to school.
Radrodro adds that operators must first meet the Ministry’s requirements before payments can be released and delays occur when required documents or other criteria have not been fulfilled.
The Ministry is working with boat, ferry and bus operators through its divisional and district teams to address payment delays.
Radrodro said that both school-owned and privately operated boats used to transport students must comply with Fiji Maritime Safety Authority requirements.
