Student transport in the Netherlands is facing major problems that have direct consequences for children who depend on this essential service.
Fred Teeven, chairman of Royal Dutch Transport (KNV), sounds the alarm in the morning broadcast of WNL and points out two core problems: a dire staff shortage and the complicated tendering rules that are stifling the sector.
According to Teeven, the shortage of qualified personnel is one of the biggest obstacles to a well-functioning student transport. “With more personnel, carriers can respond more flexibly to the specific needs of students, such as children with a disability or other special requirements. That is often not possible now,” he says. The shortage also has a domino effect: routes become longer, waiting times increase and drivers are under enormous pressure, which does not benefit the quality of the transport.
The other major problem, according to Teeven, is the complex tendering system. European tendering rules force municipalities to put transport contracts out to public tender, which is often at the expense of local transporters who have been familiar with the environment and the specific needs of the pupils for years. “Small, reliable transporters are being replaced by larger companies that have less ties with the community. This not only leads to uncertainty for parents and children, but can also jeopardize the continuity and quality of transport,” says Teeven.
chaos in student transportation
The problems in pupil transport have put parents, schools and transporters on edge. The KNV chairman sees opportunities for the State Secretary to intervene and turn the tide, despite the restrictions imposed by European tendering regulations. According to Teeven, targeted actions can not only improve the quality of transport, but also tackle the staff shortage.
One of the most important steps the State Secretary can take is to adjust procurement practices. Teeven emphasizes that municipalities are often too focused on the lowest price, which leads to a “race to the bottom”. “It is not just about what is cheap, but about what works,” he states. According to him, municipalities should be encouraged to pay fair prices to carriers. This would not only give them the means to provide better service, but also to attract and retain sufficient staff.
This week, the television program Zembla broadcast a revealing episode about the growing problems in student transportation. Based on personal stories and expert analyses, it became painfully clear how serious the situation is. Fred Teeven, chairman of Royal Dutch Transportation (KNV), delivered sharp criticism of the current system and pointed out the far-reaching consequences for vulnerable children.
Another suggestion from Teeven is to make the profession of driver more attractive. He proposes to combine student transport with other forms of care transport, such as transport that is regulated under the Social Support Act (Wmo). “By combining the activities, drivers can have a more stable income and the profession becomes more attractive,” Teeven explains. This would not only help to recruit new people, but also to increase flexibility within the sector.
The staff shortage is one of the biggest bottlenecks in student transport and has far-reaching consequences for children and their parents. Long waiting times, irregular pick-up times and stressful situations for vulnerable students are increasingly becoming the norm. By offering drivers better working conditions and more variation in their work, a structural improvement can be achieved.
Zembla
A recurring theme in the Zembla broadcast was the approach to children who are merely “packages” that need to be taken from A to B. This comparison, often used by several parents and stakeholders, underlined how insensitively the system sometimes operates. “Children need to be transported with care and attention, not crammed into a van like packages,” Teeven emphasized. Especially for children with special needs, such as a disability or autism, a personal and structured approach is essential.
One of the most striking examples discussed in the broadcast was the so-called “touringcar” in the province of Utrecht, an emergency solution that was implemented after a failed tender. This temporary measure was described in the broadcast as a symbol of how things go wrong in student transport.
hot transfer
Another important point that Teeven brings up is the so-called “warm transfer” of children. This means that more attention should be paid to the guidance of children from the moment they are picked up until the moment they arrive safely at school. “It is about children not only being transported safely, but also starting the school day in a calm and pleasant way,” he explains.
Teeven explains that some children can only sit in the front seat or cannot have other children next to them. This emphasizes the need for sufficient staff, so that carriers can respond more flexibly to the specific needs of the children. If you have sufficient staff, then you are more flexible as a carrier.
“And finally, I think a warm transfer of children is also important,” concludes Fred Teeven. “That means if a transporter arrives at a school with five children in a van and he has to walk ten minutes through a school to ensure that the child can be accompanied and goes to class, then there are four other children in such a van.”
