THE Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) will provide dedicated buses for learners and teachers when schools reopen next week.

The arrangement is part of measures taken to safely reopen schools in preparation for public examinations set for December.

There have been concerns on how learners and teachers, especially in urban centres, would be transported to schools after Government banned private commuter omnibuses in March.

Zupco is presently working with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on the logistics.

So far, about 4 000 learners have registered for the scheme in Harare.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education communications and advocacy director Mr Taungana Ndoro confirmed the ongoing arrangements.

“Our aim is to ensure that every learner and teacher has transport when classes resume,” said Mr Ndoro.

Zupco chief executive officer Mr Everisto Madangwa said several schools had expressed interest in having exclusive buses ferrying their learners and teachers.

“We are readying ourselves for the reopening of schools so that, come schools opening, our fleet will be ready to transport them,” he said.

“We have a fleet of buses that will be set aside . . . We want to ensure that every child is transported to school.

“We are still communicating with schools so that buses are availed to collect students and teachers from residential suburbs.

“So far we have received information that 4 000 learners in Harare will need transportation, so we will not be administering the one-child-per-seat method because of the numbers.”

Mr Madangwa said they were still receiving the numbers from other cities and towns.

Private schools opened last week for examination classes, while public schools resume next week for the first time since closing on March 24 due Covid-19- Sunday Mail.