The Ministry of Education will investigate ways to improve wheelchair facilities on school bus services nationally, after ''a number'' of people, including a woman from Oamaru, voiced safety concerns.
In February, Pat Fox raised concerns that her 19-year-old daughter's life could potentially be put in danger, because the school bus did not have the correct anchor points to securely hold her daughter's electric wheelchair.
Mrs Fox's complaint was similar to others made around New Zealand, following the award of Ministry of Education special education school transport assistance (Sesta) contracts last year, but Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye said a new Sesta reference group had now been set up to improve services for special needs children.
''It is clear that separate to issues that resulted from the Sesta contract process late last year, there needs to be improvements to the service. There is an opportunity to deliver a better service, particularly for high needs children and I believe the Sesta reference group will be instrumental in that.''
The complaints procedure for Sesta services would also be reviewed, she said.
''There have been a number of complaints from parents since Sesta contracts were tendered recently. I am advised that most of those complaints have been resolved or are in the process of being resolved. It is my expectation that there will be timely and effective management of complaints for parents, students and schools.
''In particular, I need to be assured that all complaints made to service providers are being reported to the ministry in a timely and consistent way. I expect this review will be completed in the next few weeks.''
However, Mrs Fox said that although modifications had since been made to her daughter's school bus, she remained cautious as to how effective the ministry's new group would be.
''Only time would tell'' if there was a real change.
''This is yet another group to look into the failings of yet another Government contract system,'' Mrs Fox said.
