The Ombudsperson regrets that in the traffic accident on 17 September 2015, on the route between the villages Buzduganii Vechi and Buzduganii Noi form Ungheni District – in which a school bus was involved, the pupils who were being transported to the district school were hurt.

Thus, so as to exclude any suspicion with regards to the failure to guarantee the safety of pupils transported from the village they live in to the one where their school is, we urge the local public authorities of first and second level, the local school and the road transport registration offices to make sure that the technical condition of the vehicles meets the requirements, that appropriate transportation conditions are provided in line with the Regulation of the Transportation of Pupils, approved by Government Decision No 903 of 30 October 2014, and that there are persons accompanying the pupils in every school bus.

Considering the very poor condition of the roads, particularly in rural areas, we urge the Ministry of Transport and Road Infrastructure to contribute to the repairs of local roads.

Only by joint efforts can we prevent school drop-out among pupils and guarantee children’s rights to life and physical integrity.