The Cabinet has approved the continuation of the special student fare for school years between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2027, setting it at €5 per month per student, with a government subsidy of €17. The annual fare will be €30, with a subsidy of €190 for each student, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, announced on Wednesday.
From 1 September 2025, all children from large and five-member families attending public secondary or technical schools will be exempt from paying the special student fare.
Vafeades also stated that from the same date, special student fare eligibility will extend to underage children under the care and guardianship of the Social Welfare Services (YKE), even if they are not enrolled in school.
Additionally, for students from low-income families and children of Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) recipients, zero-cost monthly or annual tickets will be issued. Transport operators will be compensated accordingly.
“We hope this measure will benefit all students within these categories and will help upgrade public transport services,” Vafeades said. He added that the aim is not only to offer an affordable means of getting to and from school, but also to reduce road congestion.
In response to a question about the “door-to-door” school transport programme for primary school children, the minister confirmed it will continue in the upcoming school year as it did last year.
He noted that efforts to expand routes depend on requests from communities and the availability of drivers. “This remains an ongoing effort. The government’s intention is to serve the public as broadly as possible,” he said.
While the door-to-door service primarily supports rural areas—particularly regions that share schools—it is also available in some urban areas. However, it is not yet widespread due to a shortage of available bus drivers.
Source: CNA
Feature photo source: Xinhua
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