Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Pio Tikoduadua said an upgrade from coupons to cards was expected to take place in the second term.

He said students would be required “swipe” cards electronically when boarding and disembarking from buses.

He said that would be easier and more efficient.

The Education Ministry earlier confirmed that 574 schools around the country had joined the Student Transport Assistance Scheme.

The ministry said a few more schools were expected to be part of this scheme as submissions were still being received from schools and some parents.

A special committee set up to look into the scheme decided it would only apply within an 18km distance or three stages of fares, and would amount to no more than 80 cents per person.