The spate of school bus cancellations across the Lower Hunter since the start of term one has highlighted that providing students with the means to attend school is just as important as providing them with an education.
Leaving children, some as young as 12, with no way to get home cannot be justified in any circumstances.
While many parents have had to leave work early to rescue their children from the side of the road, others have had to rely on friends to collect their children for them.
In some cases afternoon school bus services have become so unreliable parents have decided to keep their children at home, a situation which is not in anyone's best interest.
Hunter Valley Buses, the region's largest private bus company, says it regrets cancelling services but insists it has no option due a shortage of drivers caused by COVID.
While bus companies are not immune to COVID, their inability to provide an essential transport service on behalf of the government has far reaching implications.
The present crisis highlights the lack of contingency planning that is built into the private bus contracts.
While the details of contracts remain a closely guarded secret, it is well known that most service arrangements are built around tight financial tolerances.
Hunter Valley Buses told the Newcastle Herald it was actively recruiting drivers throughout the year and had increased the recruitment intake to provide additional coverage.
Customers will no doubt benefit from this recruitment drive in months to come but it does little to alleviate the present crisis.
Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison has suggested that the government should consider adopting successful driver attraction programs being offered in other states.
These packages provide training worth up to $7000 and allow bus drivers to start their public passenger accreditation before the age of 21.
Reopening schools following a period of extended lockdown was understandably a priority for the state government.
Schools have gone to great lengths to ensure that students and staff remain free from COVID.
But if some students are unable to attend due to a lack of transport, these efforts will have been seriously undermined.
Issue: 39,833
