Hundreds of National University of Samoa (NUS) students were left stranded on the morning of 29 October after all but one university bus was redirected to transport tourists from the visiting cruise ship MS Noordam, causing many to miss their morning classes on that day.

At the crack of dawn, scores of frustrated students gathered at bus stops across Apia, waiting for the NUS buses that never came. According to students, only one NUS bus was available to serve the commuters after other NUS buses were assigned to shuttle tourists arriving on the MS Noordam at Matautu Wharf on 29 October. 

According to the bus drivers, there is more money to be made from tourists.

Taurus Pio, 18, a Foundation Certificate in General student at the NUS, said the situation left many students stranded in the rain with no clear transport. She said the road was crowded and only one NUS bus arrived, carrying more students than usual. "The bus was full, and the police stopped it. Some of the students were sent back because there was no space," Pio said.

Pio said she arrived at campus after 10 am, missing classes between 8 am and 10 am on that morning. 

"I was tired of waiting. I ended up taking a taxi to get to school," she added. Pio believes the government should arrange separate buses for tourists and make sure NUS buses prioritise students.

Diana-Laiema Sinaumea, 18, a NUS foundation student, said she waited from 7 am for her 8 am to get to her Samoan tutorial, but only one NUS bus arrived.

"NUS courses are costly, and students' transport should be prioritised," she added.

Autasi Atonio, 19, a foundation student at NUS, arrived at the Apia bus station before 7 am for his 8 am English tutorial. However, with only one NUS bus available, more than 100 students were stranded. "The university must do something and make sure to improve transportation, so students don’t miss classes again," he explained.

Questions have been sent to the NUS to clarify if there is a contractual obligation for the buses that transport students. There are multiple companies providing the bus services to the local university.