Out and about with the MOS-pass!

A MOS-pass for your class?

Are you already familiar with the MOS-pass? When you take your class on a trip to an organization that works around sustainability, you can apply for the MOS-pass. This allows you and your students to use De Lijn's bus and tram services free of charge. Convenient, right?

The concept is simple: you as a teacher submit an application via the website at least ten days before the trip. This reaches a provincial MOS supervisor, and when he or she approves it, you can go!

MOS has been around for 20 years, and the concept of the MOS-pass was there from the beginning. Since then, it continues to attract interest from schools. Every year, MOS hands out between 1,500 and 2,000 passes, and that number continues to grow. "There is certainly still room for more schools," says Philippe Plessers, one of the MOS supervisors in the province of Limburg: "We want to make the MOS-pass more widely known to schools. We see that as soon as one class uses the MOS pass, other classes in the same school quickly follow. So our goal is to raise the enthusiasm of even more schools."

Moving up a gear with the MOS link

There are some conditions attached to the MOS-pass, but don't worry, they are limited. One of those conditions is that your school is an MOS-school: you can register very easily through the website. In addition, the group boarding the bus or tram can consist of a maximum of 30 people, supervisors included.

The main condition to apply for the MOS-pass is that your destination is a MOS-link or at least MOSsy enough. A MOS-link is a recognized organization with educational offerings around sustainable development. What is MOSsy then? Philippe explains: "You can also apply to go on a trip to an organization that is not a MOS-link, but does work around environmental or nature education. It then depends a bit on the motivation by the teacher, but if the content is relevant enough, we are happy to approve it." The number of MOS-links also continues to increase, which means the choice is growing. Last year there were 127, and in 2022 we are already clocking in at 133 MOS links!

I MOS-pass so I am

“Our current ambition is to be able to assist even more schools with the MOS-pass and thereby continue to promote and grow sustainable mobility," Philippe said. There are also many advantages to the pass for schools. For example, you can enter the environmental gain in the CO₂-calculator and the application of the pass itself also has a nice educational added value. After all, many teachers map out the route together with their students, teaching them about public transportation and making them self-reliant in planning their outings. Finally, MOS likes to promote environmental education: it's good to get students out of the classroom and out and about with them from time to time, and the MOS-pass is the ideal lever for that. Annemie from Het Kompas elementary school in Genk also goes on several MOS-outings with her class every year and recommends it to everyone: "I have been using the MOS-pass for as long as I can remember. At the end of August, I already plan the whole year and do all the applications. Then every month we go out with the kids. Wonderful!"

Annemie and her students went on a silence walk in November at the Provincial Nature Center (PNC), a MOS-link. They did so accompanied by Dieter Keil as their guide: "I do it for the children. Who knows, maybe I'll plant a seed here and there, and something will stick about our nature." The children heard the sap flowing from the trees with a stethoscope, listened attentively to the forest and each other AND could even measure the sound of the forest with a sound meter. By the way, did you know that a group of shouting children can reach up to 110 decibels? But you may have already experienced that...

Thanks to the MOS-pass, Annemie and her class got there safely, sustainably and for free: "We always walk to the bus stop singing, it's great fun! Our stop was right next to the PNC, so we reached our destination quickly and safely. Additionally, the drivers and fellow travelers are always very friendly, so the tour itself also adds value to our trip each time." "I am very grateful for the MOS-pass," Annemie adds. "It's great to be able to open up the world of children this way without an additional cost. That makes me happy!"

OK, we're going loose with MOS!

Convinced? Rightfully so! But how to proceed now? "The administration is really manageable, the process of applying for the pass is very smooth," says Annemie.

Here are the steps:

You look for a nice MOSsy destination for your trip, be sure to check out the MOS-links for inspiration.
You map out (with or without your pupils) your route there and back using the route planner or the app of De Lijn. You can also call "De Lijninfo". Make a note of the line numbers, which you will include in your request.
You apply at least 10 days in advance through the MOS website.
The provincial MOS supervisors will reply by e-mail. If the answer is positive, the MOS-pass will be enclosed, which you simply show to the driver when boarding.
That's it! Enjoy an enjoyable and sustainable trip with your students!

A report by Always Hungry