Parents voice concern about overcrowded school buses

SOME parents have bitterly complained about overcrowding in private school buses, though the school officials maintained the guardians had been told in advance about the space constraints.

The parents claimed their kids were riding four to five a seat and that others had to either sit on the floor in the aisles or stand because the buses are full.

“The way some schools transport kids reminds me of how labourers are herded back and forth every day – except in this case they are kids,” said a concerned parent.

Lack of stewards on buses as well as abusive attitude of some bus drivers have also been voiced.

School officials, however, remain firm saying they never put any of the kids in danger; that they have adequate number of buses, and in case a particular route is overcrowded, the parents are told but they still insist that their kids be provided the facility, regardless of how they are transported.

However, the father of one of the victims said he had never been briefed about the “tight” situation.

“We do realise that occasionally it gets uncomfortable for students on certain busy routes, but in this case we bring the matter to the parents prior to them signing up for the service,” transport official of MES Indian School – the largest expatriate institution in Qatar – told Gulf Times.

MES has a massive fleet of 98 buses, transporting some 7,000 students from, what the official said, “every nook and corner of Qatar.”

While the older GMC buses are said to accommodate as many as 83 students, the newer TATA and Leyland buses offer 66 seats.

“We just acquired five new 66-seater buses on August 26, while 15 more will be added in batches of five by April,” he said.

According to him, because of Ramadan beginning with the school year and parents’ timings, there was increased pressure on management to provide bus service.

“We try to be proactive in (addressing) the concerns so we can restore confidence among the parents that indeed safety is our top priority. It’s just some people trying to stir the pot,” he maintained.

“In 95% cases, students are dropped off at their door steps, while a steward ensures that kids are picked up and dropped off in total safety,” he added.

MES charges QR130-150 per student within Doha city limits. There are 400 students on the waiting list for MES.

Time spent on the bus is also an issue for some students.

Qatar’s law does not provide a time cap for how long students can ride the bus before they reach the schools. This does, however, make it illegal for students to stand or sit in the aisle while the bus is in motion.

A Pakistan Education Centre administration official pointed out that some of their suburban areas children are picked up as early as 5am. The school has 13 Daewoo buses (60-seater), three Mitsubishi buses (30-seater) and one Toyota Coaster (25-seater).

“If it’s 60 children on a bus, that means one is the total pick up time. Our preferable target is 45-50 minutes, however, it would be very realistic and take into consideration the traffic conditions. We do early morning and afternoons. We do stay on bended knee daily,” he said.

The school charges QR130-150 for bus service. The total strength of the school is 3,300.

“School transportation is a tricky subject,” said an official of Bangladesh MHMH School & College, “so the best thing to do is for managements to continually evaluate and inform the parents of all the developments.”

“In addition to the bus driver, and a co-driver cum helper, we put teachers to maintain discipline on the buses,” he added. MHMH School has 17 large buses and seven Coasters, in addition to other non/air cond. buses, used as back up. The school’s strength is 800, while it charges QR125-QR150 as transportation fee.

The cheapest fare for students came from Pak Shama School, which charges QR70 (non a/c) and QR80 (a/c) for within Doha city and between QR105 and QR120 for outside Doha. The total number of students at this school was 1,000.

“Occasionally the bus will be filled to more than its capacity, but in that case we let the parents know, who are usually quick to accept the situation,” an official of Pak Shama emphasised.

This was reasserted by transport official of Philippines School Doha who said that “parents usually know each school’s limitations and it’s their decision at the end to admit their wards at a particular institute.”

The school, with its total strength of close to 2,000, is in negotiation with private companies (third parties) for transportation services. It has its own Coasters (mini buses) and charges QR200 per student.

“However, the charges asked by private companies is just astounding. It usually ranges from QR17,000 and QR21,000. It is more if we commit them to provide a steward as well as maintenance,” he explained, while adding that “if we end up getting private service, the fee will have to be increased.”

As for the attitude of some bus drivers, one 9th grader of a school recently complained to her parents that the bus driver threatened students with violence.

“If you don’t shut up and sit down quietly I will knock your teeth out,” and even more aggressively, “If you continue (with making noise etc) I will skin you under your ear so hard you will remember your grandmother.”

School officials declined to comment on that, though.