It is unacceptable that our children are arriving at school exhausted by the journey from home instead of feeling fresh and ready to learn, the Nationalist Party said Tuesday.

In a statement, the PN called for urgent action following reports from parents that their children have to wake up at 5.15am and spend more than an hour and a half travelling to school in the morning, followed by another hour and a half getting home in the afternoon. Besides being inhumane for young children to have to wake up that early to be at school by 8.30am, these journeys are eating into their time for rest, study and family life.

Free school transport provides important support for families, but it must also be efficient so that parents do not end up having to use their own cars instead of this service, the PN said.

The PN called for an urgent review of the affected routes, in consultation with parents, schools and operators, to reduce unnecessary detours, improve the allocation of students to routes and, where necessary, assess whether capacity should be increased. Any changes must ensure the safety of pick-up points while taking into account children's ages, travel distances and individual needs.

There should be clear standards on acceptable pick-up times and punctuality, strengthened where necessary, with shortcomings addressed within a defined timeframe, the PN said.

Existing technology should be used effectively to improve the service, and a notification system should be in place to inform parents of delays or route changes.

Transport connections for students at the University, MCAST, ITS and other institutions must also be strengthened to meet demand and serve students at the times they need them, both in the morning and when their classes finish.

Where necessary, additional direct services or services with fewer stops should be introduced. Service frequency should reflect passenger numbers, population growth and waiting times. Changes must address instances of passengers being left behind because buses are full, the PN said.

While regular services are already free for personalised Tallinja card holders, Tallinja Direct is excluded from the general scheme. The PN proposes extending free travel to students on these services through a government-funded agreement with clear eligibility criteria.

The PN said it recognised that drivers and operators are working in difficult traffic conditions. The Government must ensure the planning, coordination and resources needed for them to provide a good service.

The PN called on the ministries responsible for education and sustainable mobility, together with Transport Malta and operators, to present a plan for the worst-affected routes, with clear deadlines and reports on results.

The statement was signed by Jerome Caruana Cilia, Shadow Minister for Education and Citizenship, and Ivan Castillo, Shadow Minister for Sustainable Mobility.