Mellieħa mayor Gabriel Micallef has asked Transport Malta and Malta Public transport to consider adding more direct routes and express services for students travelling from the locality to the University of Malta and a post-secondary school in Naxxar, after a parent raised concerns about journeys taking almost two hours each way.
In a social media post, Micallef gave the examples of a student who leaves Mellieħa at 6:20am and reaches University of Malta at 8:10am, and another who leaves at 6:38 and arrives at the Giovanni Curmi Higher Post Secondary School in Naxxar at 8:28am.
Both students spend one hour and 50 minutes travelling to their place of education, despite leaving home early in the morning, he wrotenon Facebook.
Micallef said the situation was a concern for both students, who risk arriving late for lessons, and parents who worry about whether their children will reach school on time.
He said he had written directly to Transport Malta and Malta Public Transport to present these cases and ask for possible solutions.
Among his proposals were more direct bus routes from Mellieħa to the University and schools in Naxxar, as well as express services to reduce travelling times.
He also called for bus timetables and service frequency between 6am and 8am to be reviewed, alongside better services for students returning home after lessons.
Micallef acknowledged that not every problem could be solved through an email, but said residents' concerns needed to be brought to the attention of the authorities if improvements were to be made.
He said the time students spent travelling could otherwise be used to study, rest, take part in sport or spend time with their families.
The mayor thanked the parent who had raised the issue with him, saying the concern could help other students from Mellieħa and Manikata who face similarly long journeys.
He also invited parents to share how long their children take to reach school, university or Junior College, saying he wanted to present further concrete cases to the authorities.