The bus is to be used in the school's programme to transport patients from early-childhood institutions and primary and secondary schools to and from the Dental Auxiliary School for treatment. Three to four sets of patients are transported daily to and from the school. The patients are examined and treated by students in training.

Unreliable

Dr Theon Jones, director of the training institution, said the old school bus, which is more than 15 years old, is no longer reliable and is setting back the school's training programmes.

"A reliable school bus plays a critical role in ensuring that dental students receive and treat enough patients in a timely manner in order to meet the clinical requirements of their programme, which solidifies academic and laboratory training," said Jones.

Used to aid mobile clinics

He said the bus would be used to transport staff and students to work on the school's mobile dental clinic when that programme comes into being.

The Dental Auxiliary School provides high-quality teaching and learning experiences that equip graduates with the required knowledge, attitude and technical skills to deliver top-quality promotive, preventive and curative oral health care.

The school is the only one of its kind in the Caribbean and offers training for dental nurses, dental assistants, dental hygienists and dental laboratory technologists. Graduates are employed both locally and regionally.