Larnaca parents demand action over cancelled school bus routes
Parents in Larnaca say hundreds of pupils have been left without transport as school bus services were repeatedly cancelled, and they are calling on the transport ministry to step in.
An association of secondary education parents in Larnaca has condemned the repeated cancellation of school bus routes, saying hundreds of students and their families are facing serious disruption, as reported by Cyprus Mail.
In a statement, the group said the problems have persisted since the start of the school year, with many routes not running as planned. It directed its criticism at Cyprus Public Transport, the company operating school bus services in the Larnaca district, accusing it of cancelling scheduled services and leaving pupils unable to reach their schools for days at a time.
"It cannot be accepted that students remain without transportation and that their studies are disrupted, without immediate and effective intervention by the competent authorities," the association said.
The parents argued that safe, uninterrupted transport to and from school is a contractual obligation and that families have paid the prescribed fare. They also rejected any suggestion that disruptive behaviour could justify the cancellations, saying students should not be made to bear responsibility for problems they did not cause.
The group called for all routes to be restored immediately and for a permanent solution to prevent a repeat of the situation, warning of consequences if this does not happen.
What it means for residents
For families in Larnaca, the cancellations mean last-minute changes to the morning routine, missed lessons and extra pressure on parents who have to find alternative ways to get children to school. The dispute is between the operator and the state, but the practical burden falls on households that have already paid for the service.
- Plan for disruption Check with the school or operator each morning and keep a backup arrangement in place until routes are running reliably again.
- Report missed services Log cancellations with the school and the operator so there is a clear record of how often pupils are affected.
- Expect scrutiny With parents publicly warning of consequences, pressure is likely to build on the transport ministry to enforce the contract.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
