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City authorities in Freetown say school buses have resumed operations, but students and parents across the capital report that most of the buses promised have yet to return to the roads.
Hope briefly rose among families earlier this week after officials announced that the long-idle school buses supporting the government’s Free Quality Education programme would begin operating again. However, days after the announcement, many pupils say the return exists largely in official statements rather than in daily reality.
On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, Truth Media reported growing concerns from parents following the sudden halt of the school bus service. Families described increasing transport fares, overcrowded commercial vehicles, and children arriving late to school as they struggled to find affordable transportation.
Following the report, city authorities responded the same day. The Chief Administrator of the Freetown City Council, Rahman Tom Farma, announced that the buses would resume operations on Wednesday, 4 February.
Under the national programme, Freetown was allocated 12 school buses. But when services were expected to restart, students from several schools reported seeing only two buses in circulation.
“We were happy when we heard the buses would return, but we only saw two today,” a group of students told *Truth Media* on Wednesday.
After further questions, Farma later said that six buses had resumed operations and assured the public that the remaining buses would be back on the roads by Thursday, 5 February. Yet reports from parents and students on Thursday morning contradicted that claim.
This reporter observed only one bus actively operating, while another was parked idle at the Youyi Building compound.
The contrast between official assurances and observations on the ground has left many families frustrated and disillusioned. “We were told the buses are back, but most of them are not on the road,” one student said quietly.
When asked about long-term measures to ensure consistent operations, including funding for fuel and maintenance, the Chief Administrator declined to comment.
For parents who rely on the buses to ensure their children get to school safely and on time, the limited return has provided little relief. With transport costs continuing to rise and school attendance at risk, families are calling for clear information, transparency, and sustainable solutions rather than temporary announcements.
As students and parents wait for the full fleet to return, questions remain over whether the school buses are truly back in service, or only back in official declarations.
