23 Mar 2013

Bus changes putting strain on some parents - MP

9:58 am on 23 March 2013

Parents of students living just north of Dunedin are facing huge travel costs because of changes to eligibility for a free school bus service, a Labour MP says.

David Clark, who represents Dunedin North, says the Ministry of Education is applying the rules in a different way so students are excluded from the service unless they are going to a specific school in the city or to a special interests school.

Mr Clark says the financial consequences are dire for some parents.

"They've either got to change the school that they're kids are attending with all the social disruption that goes with that, or ferry the kids into town in their own cars or pay quite a substantial fee."

A public meeting is being held on Saturday afternoon with concerned parents from areas such as Waikouaiti and Warrington, along with the heads of Otago Boys' and Otago Girls' high schools.