Cost Estimation Of Rural School Transportation In The Road Transport Mode In Braziilian Cities

Abstract

Generally, Brazilian students, especially rural residents, face several challenges to stay in school, from insufficient access to food, to difficulties in affording transportation, clothing and school materials. That is why offering free public education does not enable the access of students to school or prevent them from dropping out. Rural school transportation is the conveyance of students from their home to the school in which they are enrolled. Students may be conveyed between rural districts or from a rural area to the municipality’s urban seat. Further, the Brazilian Constitution mandates that states and municipalities provide free rural pupil transportation. To that end, states and cities may establish agreements for the municipality to convey students who attend schools under the state’s jurisdiction in exchange for the due financial aid. Public Authorities may provide school transportation directly or by means of contracting a third party enterprise through a bidding procedure. Thus, to support such agreements, it is central to identify the cost of operation of rural school transportation. Such cost encompasses input costs; optimizing route lengths; monitor the maintenance routine of vehicles and controlling taxes and fees related to the service.