Overcrowding of School Buses in Béja: A Solution on the Horizon
According to Mohamed Ali El Ghanmi, head of the exploitation department at the Béja Regional Transport Company, the back-to-school season in mid-September revealed an overload of school buses. He justified this by the increase in the number of students in the region, while the number of buses and lines remained the same as in previous years.
In a statement to the TAP press agency, he specified that this problem would be resolved thanks to the commissioning of 33 new buses. Part of them will be operational before the end of December, and the rest in February next year. These buses, financed by both the state and the region, are expected to improve the transport service in the region.
However, the Béja transport company is facing other difficulties, including the large number of students using its services and the deterioration of road infrastructure, which increases the maintenance costs of the fleet.
Key Statistics
- Approximately 75% of the Béja Regional Transport Company's fleet is dedicated to school and university transportation for the 2025-2026 academic year.
- The company serves 135 lines spread across all regions and delegations of the Béja governorate.
- As of September 3, nearly 17,000 school and university subscriptions have been sold, representing an increase of around 3% compared to last year.
- Notably, for the current academic year, the number of students in the Béja governorate stands at 62,245, compared to around 60,000 last year.
Solution and Future Prospects
The introduction of new buses is expected to alleviate the overcrowding issue and improve the overall transport service in the region. With the support of the state and the region, the Béja Regional Transport Company is working to address the challenges it faces and provide a better experience for its users.
