The Education Ministry will review the subsidized student bus fare assistance scheme.

This is to re-identify those students who really need government assistance.

Minister for Education Rosy Akbar says the review’s aim is to prevent abuse of this scheme.

Akbar says abuse has been recorded despite several reminders.

“We have found out that the scheme is being abused by some parents who are using their children’s bus fare cards and even though the screening process we found out that some schools are not giving us the correct information about those who need this assistance.”

Opposition MP Mikaele Leawere raised concerns as to why the funding for free bus fare scheme has been reduced in the 2019/2020 budget.

Akbar says after the review, those who really need assistance will be assisted while those abusing the system will be taken to task.

$25 million was allocated for this scheme in the last budget while $20 million has been allocated for the new financial year.