Bus Eireann transport policy conducive to good education?

Galway West Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, Fine Gael Education spokesperson, has requested Bus Eireann to find a way to accommodate incoming first year students on a later bus to The Presentation Convent, Headford second-level school.

‘Over the last few days approx twenty parents in the Annaghdown-Corrandulla area have relayed their fears to me about the early school bus start time their new first year sons and daughters will have to take from next week on. One parent in the Annaghdown area explained that her 12 year old son will have to board the bus at c. 7.45am for a school start of 9.10am. This is extraordinary for such a young boy. He will find himself at school with one hour to spare and nothing structured to do. Another parent of a new first-year in Corrandulla expressed a major concern about young pupils ‘hanging around’ and it not being appropriate to be mixing with older students. This view was widespread.

As a mother and educator I would have concerns myself about the inappropriateness of this school bussing arrangement. Firstly, there is tiredness which is a huge factor in first years settling in. Such an early bus will make for an extra long school day for students and will impact on their ability to concentrate, especially when it comes to completing evening homework. Teachers will notice this too. Students regularly report being ‘exhausted’ and it hits them especially once the novelty of the new school wears off. Secondly, there is the issue of being subject to influences (eg., smoking, rough and tumble of school where older pupils and large numbers gather) earlier than is necessary.

Parents are right to request a later school bus from Bus Eireann. It is well documented that one of the most critical factors in a successful second-level education is a smooth transition from primary to second-level. Getting off to a good start which is conducive to making this major transition easy is important. An early bus where youngsters of twelve and thirteen years are asked to hang around a school at 8am or so in the morning is not the way to go. I hope Bus Eireann can find a way to re-jig their timetable to provide a later bus for these children. Otherwise one would have to ask is school transport policy working against education, said Senator Fidelma Healy Eames.