Something needs to be done to solve the problems with transporting students to the special school, but in the short term we need immediate action. That’s what Minister Wiersma (primary and secondary education) said in the House of Representatives. Parents or volunteers could set up a driving service themselves or, if necessary, use regular taxis, which the municipality would then have to pay for, he said. “Necessity knows no law.”

The House of Representatives today debated the growing shortage of drivers, which means that at-risk students are sometimes unable to go to school, have to wait long for a taxi or drive far too long. Wiersma called it “very sad”, but warned that he only sees limited solutions in the short term.

Before the debate, Elijah Delsink, Chair of the Student Interest Secondary Special Education (LBVSO) industry association, presented the minister with a petition with 100,000 signatures:

Since 1986, the municipalities have been responsible for organizing school transport. A survey this year found that many places are chaotic. Wiersma is ready to take tougher action against municipalities that have not settled their affairs and, if necessary, to cut education funds. These municipalities, in turn, say that the transport companies they hire cannot find enough staff.

The VNG, the Association of Dutch Municipalities, is not willing to adapt the model agreement that municipalities use for contracts with transport companies. This should actually include a maximum driving time of 45 minutes, but the VNG is reluctant to do so. Wiersma: “That raises more expectations and that in turn leads to more disappointments, is the reason.”

Reverse decentralization?

“Pointing at each other drives you crazy,” Wiersma explained his frustration. That’s why he wants to meet with all parties soon to find a long-term solution. If the House asks him to, he’s also willing to consider whether it wouldn’t be better to reverse the decentralization of student transport and bring it back to central government.

But at the moment he mainly sees emergency solutions. “They’re palliatives, and that’s worrying.” He supports D66 MP Paul van Meenen’s proposal to oblige local authorities to pay for a taxi if it is not possible to arrange transport by other means.

This can create complicated situations for parents, he says. “Then it’s also a kind of right: who called the taxi first.” But it can be a big snag for local authorities, he thinks.

The emergency solutions also have major disadvantages, the minister admitted. “Transporting vulnerable students is really a profession,” said SP member Peter Kwint. He wondered about the insurance if something happened on such a trip and the driver didn’t have the right papers.

According to Wiersma, the big problem is that a supervisor was never explicitly appointed for the school transport. Municipalities are supposed to monitor the state of affairs, but this only happens in 60 percent of municipalities.

starvation wages

Various parties also drew attention to the poor pay of drivers. “A pittance,” admitted the minister. He himself drove in a taxi van last Monday. “Driver Ron told me he gets twelve euros an hour. And the work is not easy. You shouldn’t always hold back light children while keeping an eye on the road.”

A large part of the House believes that Cabinet should encourage transport companies to pay drivers in school transport fairly. However, State Secretary Heijnen (Infrastructure and Water Management), who was also invited by Parliament, pointed out that the cabinet had only a limited role in this. These are private companies.

However, she is prepared to point out to the municipalities that they can demand that the drivers be properly paid when the contract is concluded.