Wetteren school loses 5 buses, students' days to lengthen

Sint-Lodewijk, a special education school in Wetteren, faces significant disruption as transport company De Lijn plans to cut 5 of its 22 school buses starting next academic year. This reduction will extend the school day for students who already face challenges, forcing them to be ready even earlier.

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Our students already have worries. Now they will have to be ready even earlier in the morning.

School director Barbara Drieghe voiced her distress over the decision, emphasizing the impact on students with existing worries. "Now their school days will also take much longer," she stated. The change will also affect parents, who will need to manage an even more chaotic morning rush to get their children to the bus on time.

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This will weigh heavily on the students, I fear. These are precisely the students who already have many worries. Now their school days will also take much longer.

Drieghe acknowledged that De Lijn needs to make savings and that bus cuts are unavoidable. However, she expressed hope that the impact of these cuts has been carefully considered. Parents and students are still awaiting details on which specific buses will be removed, with De Lijn expected to provide this information before the end of the school year to allow for planning.

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The morning rush will become even more chaotic, as parents will have to get their children ready even earlier to leave.

The director also highlighted the potential job losses for bus escorts and drivers, expressing sadness for the dedicated staff. "These people do their job with heart and soul," she said. While the school has limited direct influence over the bus transport, it plans to relay the concerns of parents and students to De Lijn and noted the establishment of a dedicated contact point for parents.

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We know that De Lijn has to save money. That buses are being cut is unavoidable. I assume that the impact of the savings has been well thought out.