The Ajuntament de Sant Martí de Tous, the town council, has asked the Generalitat de Catalunya's Department of Territory, the regional government's territorial policy department, to resolve a shortage of places on the I-27 bus route for post-16 students.

The council says the issue affects students taking Batxillerat, the two-year academic course normally followed after compulsory secondary education, and vocational training courses. For families in Tous, the immediate consequence is that pupils who had received permission to use the service at the start of the school year may have to rearrange their journeys after plans had already been made around a bus place.

According to the council, several families raised concerns during the week about the lack of available seats.

Previously authorised pupils affected

The council said rules give priority on the service to pupils in compulsory education. It questioned why restrictions were applied after the school year had begun and why vacant seats were being limited for older students who had already been authorised to travel.

“We are aware that the rules establish priority for pupils in compulsory education. However, we consider it worrying that this situation has arisen after the start of the school year, when several families had already organised their children’s travel on the basis of a place that had previously been authorised, and when the use of empty seats is being restricted.”

Travel is needed for studies outside the village

The council said many young people from Sant Martí de Tous need to travel outside the municipality for Batxillerat, vocational courses or other studies. It called suitable transport particularly important to allow them to continue their education.

  • Students in Batxillerat are affected, according to the council.
  • The complaint also covers pupils on vocational training courses.
  • The council says some of those pupils had already been authorised to use the I-27 at the start of the school year.

It said the matter should be a priority for the Generalitat's Department of Education, the regional government department responsible for education, and a shared demand for town councils and the Consell Comarcal, the county-level council.

The Ajuntament says it will continue monitoring the situation. Families who wish to submit a suggestion or proposal about municipal services can use the council's official procedures and services portal.

Primary sources: dtes.gencat.cat, Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament d'Educació, patrimonifestiu.cultura.gencat.cat, Departament d'Educació. Generalitat de Catalunya, portaljuridic.gencat.cat. Reported by seu-e.cat, busmaps.com, projectes.xtec.cat, Ajuntament de Sant Martí de Tous, igualadajove.cat, netgrows.com, portal.edu.gva.es, La Veu de l'Anoia.