extra guidanceThe development of children in special education is hampered by the unrest in student transport. They are sometimes on the road for hours, are in full vans and therefore often arrive at school overstimulated and tired. Children’s ombudswoman Margrite Kalverboer says that in the broadcast on Sunday evening of pointer †
Children also have to deal with many changing drivers, who are usually not pedagogically trained. “Actually, I almost only come across cases where transport is so bad for the development of the child that they can no longer perform at school,” says Kalverboer.
The Ombudsman for Children therefore wants guidance on the bus more often, so that there is more peace of mind and the driver can pay better attention to the road. In this way, Kalverboer hopes that children can start their school day rested.
In the Netherlands, 70,000 children use school transport. Kalverboer thinks that extra guidance is not necessary on all journeys. “But if the group is too large, or if the composition of the children does not go well together, then there should simply be someone on the bus who is not concerned with traffic, but with the children.” It is up to the municipalities that organize student transport to discuss this with parents.
Cheap and efficient
According to the Ombudsman for Children, the best interests of the child are currently too little taken into account in the implementation of student transport. “Now a lot is being looked at how it can be done as cheaply and efficiently as possible.”
The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) is not opposed to Kalverboer’s plan. The VNG wants to discuss improving quality with the minister in the near future. The VNG also believes that more frequent use of guidance could contribute to this. “The condition is that municipalities also receive the funds to bear the costs associated with this solution,” said a spokesperson.
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