12 new bus attendants for the 2026/2027 school year

Twelve pupils from Year 8 at the Euregio Gymnasium, the St. Georg Gymnasium and the Hohe-Giethorst-Schule have been trained as bus monitors this year. They will take up their voluntary roles at the start of the 2026/2027 school year. This brings the total number of active bus monitors in the current school year to 49.

On 4 September, the dedicated pupils received their bus monitor passes. "Taking on this important task is by no means something to be taken for granted. 'You have made a conscious decision to take on responsibility and show initiative,'" said Dirk Lueg, Head of the Schools and Sport Department, as he began his address. He emphasised the importance of the project and praised the trained bus monitors for their courage and willingness to help.

The important role of bus monitors

The two-day training course took place on 7 and 8 July 2026 at Café Karton. Social education worker Julia Berg and Chief Detective Inspector Michael Wanning from the Crime Prevention and Victim Protection Unit taught the young people skills in the areas of communication, de-escalation and conflict resolution. The focus was particularly on preparing the pupils for situations they might encounter on the school bus. Through role-plays, everyday conflict situations were addressed and suitable solutions were worked out together.

The bus monitors act as points of contact for passengers and driving staff. In conflict situations, they are expected to have a calming influence, mediate in disputes and help ensure that school transport runs as smoothly as possible. To ensure they are easily recognisable to pupils and driving staff alike, the young people were issued with an identity card.

In operation for over 20 years

The idea for the Bocholt bus monitor project arose during the 2005/2006 school year. It was prompted by complaints relating to school bus services. Pupils were therefore to be trained to help foster better co-operation on the buses themselves.

In June 2006, pupils in Years 8 and 9 underwent their first two-day training course to become bus monitors. The project initially launched on four bus routes. Just six months later, feedback from those involved showed that there was a need for bus monitors on further routes as well. Since the project began, more than 200 pupils have been trained as bus monitors.

Partners

The bus escort project is being implemented in collaboration with the Euregio-Gymnasium, the St.-Georg-Gymnasium and the Hohe-Giethorst-Schule, as well as the Borken District Police, Stadtbus Bocholt GmbH, Westfalen Bus GmbH, Busverkehr Rheinland GmbH, Niederrheinische Verkehrsbetriebe AG, DEKRA, Café Karton and the City of Bocholt. DEKRA covers the costs of the trainer and provides the key holders for the ID cards.