At Għajnsielem we have a residential area known as Il-Gudja, about one kilometre from the village square, which is where secondary school students who live in the area are dropped off by the school bus, obliging them to walk home.

Many of them have to walk this distance with a satchel of many kilos of books on their backs twice a day, rain or shine. When we spoke to the person in charge of this school bus service in Gozo he bluntly told us that for these children to be dropped closer to home they have to live about a mile away from the drop off zone, which is the village square.

Surely these children deserve better. This service is a must and I don't see why it cannot be put into practice before the school semester is over. I appeal to those who have a say in this matter to deal with this situation, because this service was in fact given in the past.

Another plea goes to those who approve permits for bus shelters, because in this particular area there is no shelter for these students and residents although it was requested quite a long time ago.