PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION 15 MAY 2007 LEARNER TRANSPORT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION 15 MAY 2007

Issues in learner transport CONTENTS Issues in learner transport DoE research Current provision Next steps

Issues in learner transport Effective access & implications: Location of schools Transport Hostels Substantial difference between provinces in approaches Wide coverage of problems with bus service Perceived quality of service, especially with reference to learner safety Agreements & payment of contractors In response, DoE commissioned experts

Objectives of the study Gather information on existing learner transport schemes both internationally, nationally and sub-nationally. Evaluate and develop alternate strategies to improve access to schools in SA Formulate a national framework on learner transport assistance schemes, as a guideline for PEDS

Status quo National Household Travel Survey (Department of Transport: 2003) 75% of learners take less than 30 minutes to walk from home to school As many as 5% of those walking (or more than 570,000 learners) take longer than 1 hour to reach their place of education; 25% of primary school children (1,7 million) and 36% of high school learners (1,8 million) walk longer than 30 minutes or about 3 km in one direction; High proportion of learners walking longer than 30 minutes to reach education sites in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and North West .

Diverse provincial practice: Status quo (2) Learner transport policy and implementation in 8 of the 9 provinces (KwaZulu-Natal only proceeding now). Diverse provincial practice: Type of support Mostly contracted dedicated transport service Also: Money/cash for using public transport Non-motorised transport (bicycles) Criteria for participation Generally distance (3 to 5 km) Income sometimes factored in

Status quo (3) NW managed by Department of Transport, information not available KwaZulu-Natal – no learner transport in the past

Current processes Internal consultation within education sector on appropriate way forward What is required? (national policy, national guidelines or provincial prerogative) Clear responsibilities Scope of what is required? (From broad policy to management system to operations) Transport participated together with provinces in processes around the study but further consultation required

Potential impact Key decision on whether a national distance or other norm should be set Implications not insignificant Implications for numbers transported and expenditure identified in table below

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