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25 signatures reached
To: Lindi Masina, MEC for Education in Mpumalanga
We demand the MEC of Education in Mpumalanga to provide transport for Special School Learners
Every child deserves to travel to and from school safely. For children attending a special school, this is even more important. Many of these learners have different abilities, including children who are autistic or non-verbal, and may not always be able to explain when something is wrong. When transport is unsafe or poorly supervised, these children become vulnerable.
We are calling on the Department of Education in Mpumalanga to take immediate, practical steps to ensure the safety of learners transported to Special Schools.
We are demanding:
We are calling on the Department of Education in Mpumalanga to take immediate, practical steps to ensure the safety of learners transported to Special Schools.
We are demanding:
- The immediate appointment of transport for Special School Learners.
- An adult monitor on all scholar transport vehicles serving special needs learners. The driver alone cannot safely supervise children with different abilities while also focusing on the road. An assigned monitor will help prevent bullying, protect vulnerable learners, and ensure accountability. The designated driver and assistant will have to attend programs to better equip themselves with the children.
- The development and communication of a clear transport safety policy within 30 days from the Traffic Department, working with the Department of Education. This policy should include supervision standards, incident reporting procedures, and consequences for misconduct.
- Finally, we request regular oversight to ensure compliance, including periodic checks or monitoring by the Department of Education and Traffic officials.
These are reasonable, achievable steps that prioritize the safety, dignity, and protection of children with special needs. Parents should not have to fear for their children’s safety during daily transport to school.
Why is this important?
For the past few years, parents have raised concerns about bullying, missing belongings, and unsafe behavior during scholar transport rides. These concerns are often raised to the schools or the taxi association that runs the scholar transports. In some cases, parents only discovered the seriousness of the situation after repeatedly asking questions. This shows a clear gap in supervision and communication. Transport is not just about getting children from one place to another; it is an extension of their school day. If it is not properly managed, children are placed at risk.
This issue affects more than one family. It affects a whole community of vulnerable learners who rely on adults to protect them. When systems fail to provide proper oversight, it sends the message that the safety of children with special needs is not a priority. That is unacceptable.
Public pressure is often what pushes decision-makers to act. When many community members sign and stand together, it shows that this is not an isolated complaint but a shared concern. By joining this campaign, you are helping to demand simple, practical solutions, supervised transport, clear safety policies, and accountability. Together, we can ensure that every child travels to school with dignity, safety, and protection.