Nicosia, Cyprus. More than a third of school buses inspected at public technical inspection centres in Cyprus were found to be unroadworthy, according to an Audit Office report. The report also found that 19 per cent of buses deemed unsuitable at public centres had previously obtained certificates from private vehicle inspection centres.
Inspection findings
The report said 35 per cent of the buses examined at public technical inspection centres, known as Kemo, failed inspections. It added that 19 per cent of the buses found unsuitable had recently passed checks carried out by private vehicle inspection centres, known as Ikteo.
District variation
The findings differed significantly by district. Nicosia recorded the lowest failure rate, which the Audit Office said could reflect better vehicle maintenance or more effective preparation before inspections.
Famagusta recorded the highest failure rate at 76 per cent. The report noted, however, that the relatively small number of buses inspected there means the figure may not be fully representative.
Failure rates were 47 per cent in both Larnaca and Paphos, while Limassol recorded 39 per cent. The watchdog said the results highlighted the need for further attention and corrective measures.
School transport network
Public passenger transport services in Cyprus are operated by six contractors serving the island’s five districts and intercity routes. More than 600 buses are used nationwide for school transport services, and the report said continuous supervision and systematic technical inspections are essential.
It added that some buses which initially failed state inspections were later repaired by contractors and passed follow-up checks conducted by district offices of the Road Transport Department.
Audit Office warning
In the foreword to the report, auditor-general Andreas Papaconstantinou said the safe transport of pupils “is not merely an administrative or contractual obligation, but a fundamental responsibility of the state, intrinsically linked to the protection of human life and the safeguarding of the public interest”.
He said the findings “do not point to isolated failures, but to troubling indications of systemic non-compliance”.
Missed mandatory inspections
The report also said that 53 per cent of all school buses failed to attend mandatory extraordinary inspections at Kemo centres by the deadline set by the transport ministry.
Among the 47 per cent of buses that did undergo inspections, 14 per cent did not have valid Ikteo certificates issued within the previous three months, as required under ministry instructions.
