As schools reopen on Monday, 1 September, Belgium’s special education bus services are preparing for one of their busiest years yet.
According to the Federation of Belgian Bus and Coach Companies (FBAA), more than 45,000 pupils attending special education schools are expected to rely on buses for their daily commute.
Public transport operator De Lijn, which manages contracts for school bus services, has slightly lower estimates, putting the figure closer to 44,000 pupils. While the two bodies differ on numbers, both agree that demand is steadily increasing.
A total of 2,148 drivers will transport children to and from schools across the country every day. Collectively, these buses cover an impressive 25 million kilometres annually, underlining the critical role they play in Belgium’s education system.
“Year after year, more pupils in special education rely on school buses,” said FBAA CEO Pieter Van Bastelaere. “To ensure the quality and continuity of these routes, adequate funding is essential.”
The federation stresses that funding challenges are ongoing. “We are constantly playing catch-up,” said spokesperson Kim Taylor. “Policy changes in special education take time to filter through, but school transport companies can only continue if financial support keeps pace with growing demand.”
De Lijn, meanwhile, focuses less on the total number of children and more on the structure of services. The operator highlights the rising number of bus stops, which grew from 42,000 last year to 44,000 this year.
“We have coordinated with schools to ensure that every enrolled pupil has a designated bus stop,” said De Lijn spokesperson Jens Van Herp. “Every seat on the bus will certainly be occupied.”
Driver training is also a key concern. The FBAA has introduced specialised programmes to prepare drivers for the unique challenges of transporting pupils with special educational needs.
Both organisations are now working with the Flemish government on a long-term strategy paper that aims to reform school transport services by 2040.
Among the pilot projects currently being tested is the introduction of centralised bus stops, designed to reduce travel times and improve efficiency. “So far, these initiatives seem to be successful,” Van Herp confirmed.
As Belgium’s education sector adapts to growing demand, the debate over funding and logistics highlights the importance of ensuring reliable school transport for some of the country’s most vulnerable pupils.
