Laks starts petition student transport.

Laks starts petition student transport.

Many students still arrive late or do not arrive at school at all due to problems with student transport. Because of this, they miss important education. The Landelijk Aktie Komitee Scholieren (LAKS) has therefore started a petition. On April 10, LAKS will cycle with a tandem, the LAKSE TAXI, from Utrecht to The Hague to offer the petition to the education committee.

The petition asks the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) to take responsibility for student transport. Municipalities and taxi companies should no longer carry the responsibility. Every student must be able to follow good education. Ouders & Onderwijs has been asking for improvements in student transport for years. Unfortunately, we see that too little changes. We therefore support this action and call on parents to sign the petition.

Problems with student transport

In the spring of 2022, Ouders & Onderwijs published a report about student transport. It showed that there were major problems. At our advice point, we also receive tragic signals: from children arriving late at school to children being dropped off at the wrong address. As a result, the already vulnerable students arrive exhausted at school and have no energy or time left at home for their own social environment. Parents are therefore very concerned. The main problems:

• Trips are too long
• Drivers change too often
• Unsafe and stressful situations on the bus
• Complaint handling is insufficient

Response from Secretary Paul

Despite many conversations, the problems are still not solved. The children’s ombudsman therefore sent a letter to Secretary Paul about the problems with student transport. The response shows that there is no solution in sight yet. That is why we support the call from LAKS and ask the Ministry of OCW to take responsibility.

Our recommendations

At Ouders & Onderwijs we not only see the problems, but we want to be an active part of the solution. That is why we make the following recommendations to improve student transport:

• Focus on the quality of transport in the municipality tender, not the cost
• Require a maximum travel time of 45 minutes one way
• Provide drivers or support with pedagogical training
• Improve complaints handling, both at municipalities and transport companies

Questions about student transport

Do you as a parent experience problems with student transport? Too long travel times, many changing drivers and unsafe situations in the minibuses? We made a step-by-step plan to help you as a parent to bring the problems to the attention of, among others, the municipality. Of course, you can always contact our advice point for free for information and advice.