Minister of Education, Reverend Ronald Thwaites, says The Ministry will be ensuring that students entering secondary school this year are placed in institutions close to where they live.

He says the aim is to cut down on travel time and the gathering of students at bus parks.

Reverend Thwaites says he respects parental preferences for placement of their children in high schools but he urges that, wherever possible, students should be encouraged to attend school close to their place of residence.

He says the schools in the relevant neighbourhoods are improving and the government is committed to having them improve even more and provide further resources for them.

In addition, The Minister says there are dangers, which face students who have to travel and even in the bus parks.

He was addressing a gathering of education stakeholders for Region 6, which comprises St. Catherine and Clarendon, held at The Cedar Grove Academy in St. Catherine this week.