Controversial change to student card for Isle of Man ‘still under investigation’, minister says

The Minister of Infrastructure appears to be hesitating about the decision to shorten the validity of bus cards with student discounts.

There has been a significant change in the use of GoSchool cards for primary and secondary students since the start of the week, but Minister Tim Crookall said his department is “still working on this”.

The Bus Vannin cards, which allow students to travel to and from school at a discount, are now no longer valid after 5 p.m.

Bus Vannin says the move is due to a change in school schedules that were previously finalized.

Previously, the cards allowed subsidized trips until 6 p.m., allowing students to participate in after-school activities.

SCH 1 card is for primary school students, SCH 2 card is for secondary school students and the SCH 3 is for University College Isle of Man (UCM) students.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall was questioned at the House of Keys this week by Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse about what factors contributed to the decision.

Mr Crookall confirmed that 1,000 students had used the bus between 5pm and 6pm since the start of this school year. He argued that most students had not used the service after 5pm due to school activities.

He said: ‘It was clear that the school smart card was no longer relevant and needed to be reviewed.

“The problem we have right now is with students doing after-school activities. We are still assessing this and working with the schools. We are happy to take any comments to heart.’

He said that on the first day of the changes, some students were allowed on the buses with their cards because they had attended after-school activities.

When asked by Douglas East MHK Joney Faragher where this was a way to make money from working families through their school children, Mr Crookall replied: ‘This is absolutely not a money maker at all, but going back to what it should have been in the first place . It’s about getting the best out of the service.

‘The cards are intended to get the student from home to school and back home again. We find that the majority of students boarding after 5pm are not at the school pick-up points, but may have gone into town after school and used them again after 5pm.”

Rushen MHK Michelle Haywood wondered whether 5pm was long enough for children to play a game of football or another sport or attend after-school shows.

Mr Crookall said he was ‘happy to agree with her’.

He also went on to say that if too many students use the service unrelated to school activities, it could mean the buses are overcrowded and deny other passengers the opportunity to use them.

Mr Crookall told members his department was “still assessing and working on this”.

The policy change sparked a backlash from parents and students who say the decision ignores the needs of young people involved in extracurricular activities, sports competitions and after-school study sessions.

One parent said: ‘Leave it at 6pm so if there is a club or sports match they would like to attend they can do so, or better yet they have no time limit – as long as it is one trip to school and one return trip a day, what difference does that make?’