However, the reality remains that in the current labor market it is difficult to recruit enough drivers.
The Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Dennis Wiersma indicates that a municipality where student transport goes wrong can come up with emergency solutions itself. “Good emergency solutions are, for example, deploying volunteers, including parents and retirees, as is happening in Zwolle. But hiring external parties, such as providers of coaches (with guidance) or using street taxis, as is done in Enschede, are also possible. That is why I strongly urge municipalities to deploy emergency solutions where necessary," said Wiersma in a letter to the House.
congregations
Despite the fact that the responsibility for the implementation of student transport lies legally with municipalities, the minister believes that students who need it are properly transported to school and Wiersma thinks it is terrible that this is not being done enough. In response to questions from members Van Meenen (D66), Paul (VVD), De Hoop (PvdA), Beertema (PVV), Segers (ChristenUnie), Kwint (SP), Bisschop (SGP) and Westerveld (GroenLinks) , says Wiersma that he has both asked municipalities about this picture and requested an inventory of the bottlenecks, including where and what they are mainly located.
"I am shocked by the signals I receive that can be read and heard in the various media. And I also see, just like the LBVSO, that this often leads to problems with vulnerable children. I understand that LBVSO demands improvement."
The minister recently informed the House of Representatives about a study he started with the VNG among parents into travel time and the quality of student transport. Attention is paid to all crucial aspects, such as the arrival of drivers on time. In addition to the inventory he requested in the short term, to specifically tackle bottlenecks, this research should provide a representative national picture of the number of students affected by various bottlenecks in student transport, including arriving at school on time. Wiersma indicates that she shares the urgency and also wants to inform the House as soon as possible about the first results of this investigation, and will discuss with the VNG where they can accelerate this.
"I have structural consultations with Royal Dutch Transport (KNV) and other ministries about activities to solve the staff shortage. Transporters are already making efforts to recruit more drivers through recruitment. This requires creativity and attention. I am seizing all possibilities myself to keep bringing creative solutions to the fore.”
On the basis of the aforementioned monitoring study, Wiersma is in talks with the VNG about how municipalities are carrying out their duties
and what choices they make in it. Also so that they come up with (structural) solutions in student transport both in the short term and in the (medium) long term.
tenders
The minister indicates that one of the structural solutions is that municipalities will jointly tender for target group transport in the new tender round, so that drivers will receive a larger employment contract than the current, often small contracts of sixteen hours a week. It is important here that municipalities make agreements about making the transport of the various target groups sequential, so that, for example, WMO transport is used as much as possible after school transport. This is already happening in Rotterdam at Trevvel.
In addition, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management intends to extend the exam period for drivers within a work-study program, so that the chance of success increases and therefore also the number of drivers. From discussions that Wiersma has had with carriers, it appears that the carriers are also taking various measures to tackle the staff shortage.
However, the reality remains that in the current labor market it is difficult to recruit enough drivers. Many drivers have a relatively low income, also due to the fact that in many municipalities the target group transport has been tendered by different companies, which often leads to small contracts. This can also have a negative effect on quality. Drivers with good quality and affinity with the students should be employed in student transport. And they must be adequately equipped for this by the transport companies. Also with larger contracts as far as I'm concerned and a suitable salary. The study by Parents & Education shows that this is sometimes insufficient.
