MLP spokesman claims school transport flaws

The Labour Party's spokesman on education, Carmelo Abela has called on the government to draw up a policy on schoolchildren's supervision before and after school, specifically when the pupils use transport.

Speaking in front of the gate of St Joseph's boys' secondary school, which opens onto the very busy road on Corradino Hill, Mr Abela said that in a meeting between the Education Minister and the Malta Union of Teachers on March 26 it had been agreed there would be a clear policy on students' supervision by the start of a new scholastic year.

"Notwithstanding concern expressed by parents and teachers, school has started and no such policy exists so far," Mr Abela said.

He said the average ratio of supervising teachers to students was one to 40.

The Labour spokesman said a number of rules on school transport were being flouted by transport contractors. "Kindergarten children should not be carried in the same buses as primary school students while girls and boys cannot travel on the same buses either. I am informed that these rules are not being respected," he said.

Mr Abela said vans still collected school children very early in the morning even though a rule on school transport specified that a driver could not collect a child more than an hour before school started.

"Children should always be our first priority. Action should be taken to ensure the students' safety," Mr Abela said.

In reaction, the Ministry of Education referred to a circular published by the Education Division at the beginning of the last scholastic year. The circular drew the attention of all heads of school to the fact that the services of up to a maximum of three supervisors daily - either one in the morning and two in the afternoon or vice versa - could be utilised.

"Morning supervision is 30 minutes before school starts while requests for after-school supervision are acceded to only if transport is provided later than 15 minutes after school ends," the circular said.

Furthermore, school heads were asked to inform the education division of details of routes, dates and times when transport was late.

Addressing students and parents on the first day of school, Education Minister Louis Galea had said it would be ensured that school buses and vans would abide by conditions agreed to. "Discussions are ongoing to guarantee a good service," the minister had said.

The Education Ministry said that with regard to kindergarten and primary schools, parents were informed that school doors would only be opened 10 minutes before school started and that the school would not be responsible for children who waited unsupervised outside the school before that. Exceptions would be made by special arrangement and where possible.

Parents were also responsible for their children after school and the school was not responsible for children who were picked up late after school.

In the case of secondary school students, the ministry said, heads would allow those who used school transport into the school 30 minutes before school started. When their transport back home was delayed, the students would be allowed to call up their parents and wait for the school van or bus inside the school.