A photo that was published on the popular Is-Salott page on Facebook this morning shows three children waiting for their school bus at 6.30am – when it is still dark and raining.

The three are taking shelter but they do not want to move inside too much for fear that the bus driver might drive past if he does not see them.

This photo raises several questions: Why should school children be picked up at 6.30am when their classes start two hours later? Cannot we have a better school transport system? Isn’t this causing unnecessary risks for the children, on their own and in the dark, in a busy road?

It is also probable that other children were being picked up before the kids in the photo. Should we make it so hard for our children?

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo – please note.