MK Zevulun Orlev, Chairman of the Knesset's Education, Culture and Sport Committee, asked Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat to reconsider decisions to make cuts in the transportation of children to and from schools.
The committee held a session on the subject Wednesday following changes in transportation arrangements in the capital in the current school year. The debate was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Jerusalem Municipality and parents who were affected by the decision to cut transport.
The Chairwoman of the Nationwide Parents' Leadership, Eti Binyamin, said that “when Nir Barkat was in the Opposition he fought for busing in the city. Once he was elected he changed his spots. Instead of cutting the busing, there was no pressing need for investing NIS 11 million in a project for a sign at the entrance to the city.”
“Education is not just what happens in the classroom,” MK Orlev said. “First you need to reach school and to return from it safely.” A local authority that wishes to cut busing needs to make sure that students' safety is not endangered, he noted. “In the new situation that has taken shape in Jerusalem, there is a concern that pupils' security is not safeguarded,” he said, and called upon the municipality to rethink its decision.