Spending on school transport in Brava challenges resources from the City Council and Icase
Nova Sintra, October 18, 2023 - The Mayor of Brava, together with the Cape Verdean Institute of Social Action (Icase), recently announced that they are spending more than 700 thousand Cape Verdean escudos monthly on school transport to meet to the needs of the local population.
This statement follows a growing outcry from parents and guardians requesting school transport services for children attending kindergarten in Nossa Senhora do Monte, an issue that has placed significant pressure on the city's available resources.
The island of Brava has always faced the challenge of ensuring that all children have adequate access to school transport. The Mayor of Brava, in collaboration with Icase, has been providing transport services to meet the needs of young people.
The Mayor of the City Council, in an interview with Bravanews, expressed concern about the growing pressure on the municipal budget. "We understand the importance of school transport to guarantee access to education, but we are working with limited resources," said the president. "Spending more than 700 thousand escudos per month on this service is a challenge, especially when we have other priorities that also need attention."
The need for school transportation in Nossa Senhora do Monte has grown as more parents and guardians recognize the benefits of safe and reliable access for their children, especially children who attend kindergarten. The lack of reliable public transport options, lack of financial resources and concerns about children's safety have been key reasons for this growing demand.
The city council and Icase are currently working together to find solutions to the problem. One of the possibilities according to President Tavares “if the parents and guardians of Nossa Senhora do Monte want, by addressing the CMB, we were able to agree on the reintroduction of transport charges for those who have to come to Nova Sintra for secondary education - as there was before - and this way we will have funds for free transportation of children from Campo Baixo to the Nossa Senhora do Monte kindergarten”.
The challenge of balancing growing demand with limited resources remains at the center of discussions at Brava City Council. Finding effective ways to address this issue will continue to be a priority to ensure that the education of the island's children is preserved and enhanced.
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