A spokesperson from the Ministry of Education has informed the Malta Independent that as of today, there are 250 registered operators involved in the free school transport scheme.
The initiative is in its second year of operation after last year saw a total of 11,625 students who attend private and church schools making use of the free school transport scheme.
“Following the successful introduction of the scheme, the Ministry can confirm that from a handful of operators 12 months ago, as of today there are 250 registered operators in this initiative to serve students attending non-State primary and secondary schools.”
Whilst this newspaper asked for figures and details on the service’s operation, the spokesperson explained that the Ministry will be able to provide details of usage towards the beginning of the scholastic year.
“Feedback received by the ministry indicates that parents this year are finding more options in the market due to the increase in investment from the private sector.”
Last year saw several parents being told that there was not enough space on the minibuses scheduled to service certain routes, and that some routes might likely not even be serviced, a statement which was also confirmed by one of the bigger transport operators to The Malta Independent.
A number of operators at the time had sent a letter to Heads of Schools reiterating this.
The initiative was a promise listed in the Labour Party’s electoral manifesto and was touted by government to be saving parents some €700 a year.
At the signing of the deal in 2018, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo had said that instead of supervisors, students who use school transport would be monitored by an app that traces when a child gets on or off the transport van.
The Ministry had also advised that pick-up and drop-off times will be set by the van operators, which, however, is regarded as normal practice when it comes to school transport.
Speaking at the signing of the agreement last year, Bartolo said that turbulence when the scheme starts were not to be ruled out as the short time span, limited number of vehicles and drivers available, and competing demands were to be a big challenge.
Parents with children attending non-State schools are reminded to liaise directly with the school and/or transport operator registered in the scheme (www.schooltransport.edu.mt)
