Given the sparse distribution of settlements in certain areas of the country, the likes of Faraba, Pirang, Kuloro and Mandinaba in Kombo East, where commercial motorists do not frequent, so many commuters living around those areas pin their hope on civil servant-owned vehicles and other private motor vehicle owners.

But for students travelling from these areas to attend schools in Brikama and the Greater Banjul Area, the indifference of these vehicle owners is often dispiriting. The plight of some stranded students caught the attention of this reporter, and he attempted to sound their opinion. He was astounded by the expressed frustration in the minds of the students. They described their situation as a "tedious setback to their educational pursuit."

Places like police and immigration checkpoints have served as some kind of sanctuary for these students, as they often count on the influence of the security personnel who plead on their behalf for reluctant drivers to give them rides. In fact, it was at the Mandinary police and immigration checkpoint that this reporter met a group of students, anxiously waiting for their turn to catch a ride to school. The students capitalized on the opportunity to appeal to the Gambian leader to help relieve them of their "burden".

Biram Bah, a student at the Kinderdorf Bottrop Senior Secondary School in Brikama, said that the situation they are currently undergoing was not really favourable to them. He argued that as a grade twelve student, he needs enough time to read. "But considering the time we normally spend on the highway waiting to catch transport to school, and the time we normally arrive at school, we are definitely suffering," he said.  

He noted that the most disturbing issue is that they always arrive late at school and this, he said, also amounts to a setback for them, as they stand to miss out on any subject that is treated in their absence. Biram Bah further thanked the Mandinaba police, whom, he said, had been helping them since they received a vehicle from President Yahya Jammeh. He however lamented that the vehicle cannot accommodate even a quarter of their number. Lamin Ceesay, another student travelling from the village of Kuloro and Ming Dow Senior Secondary School in Farato, said that sometimes, they are forced to trek and reach school very tired.

Like Biram, Lamin is equally concerned about missed lessons. According to him, by the time they arrive in school, they are so tired that they tend not to understand anything. He joined his colleagues in appealing to the government and the Education department to intervene and relieve them of this disturbing burden.

Some of the students hailed the effort of their parents, whom, they said, help by giving them transport fares occasionally but "because we can no longer afford the transport cost, which has now been increased, this leaves us with no choice but to beg for lifts".
A younger student among the lot spoke of "the advantages students in the urban areas enjoy over those from the rural areas".

He urged the government to give due consideration to the difficulties they are currently undergoing, noting the fact that such demands have been previously made but to no avail.