RTA beefs up school bus fleet with security and Covid-19 measures

Decision intended to encourage more pupils to use the service

Parents see off their children off to classes for the first time since March in August 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Naividh Pillai, aged 3, looks a little bewildered as he arrives for his first day at Gems Wellington Academy with sister Alaikha and parents Meera and Deepesh. Antonie Robertson / The National

Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Antonie Robertson/The National

Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Thermal monitors at the entrance scan people for signs of fever or high temperature. Antonie Robertson/The National

Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Antonie Robertson / The National

A pupil wearing a colourful face shield arrives at Horizon International School in Dubai on Sunday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A mother helps her son sanitise his hands as he arrives at Horizon school. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Children arrive for school at Horizon International School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Children arrive for school at Horizon International School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A pupil gets her temperature checked at the entrance of Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National

Pupils return to Al Mizhar American Academy in Dubai. Shruti Jain for The National

A staff member assists a pupil as Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National

Tarryn Patel, a homeroom teacher from South Africa, attends to her grade 1 pupil at Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National

Pupils are spaced apart at the cafetaria at Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National

Dubai transport chiefs have improved the emirate’s 440-strong school bus fleet in readiness for the new school term.

Strict rules to safeguard against Covid-19, such as sanitisation and 50 per cent capacity, are in place.

Dubai Taxi Corporation and the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority said they hope the measures will encourage more children to take the bus to class rather than use private vehicles, which contribute towards traffic congestion.

Schools across the country will return formally on August 29.

“The Dubai Taxi Corporation has taken extensive precautionary measures to ensure the safety of students,” said Mansour Al Falasi, its chief executive.

“Devices include cameras, sensors to ensure no student is left behind in the bus, an emergency button to communicate with the control centre, a GPS-based electronic tracking system, radio-frequency identification system and an engine self-extinguishing system.”

Drivers have also been trained in first aid, state news agency Wam reported.

In total, 7,300 pupils are registered for school transport and 22 schools in Dubai use such services.

Children aged 16 and above in the UAE must be vaccinated against Covid-19 to return to school, the Ministry of Education said on Monday.

Pupils in Dubai, which has its own crisis authority and whose private schools are regulated by a separate education body, are not affected by the decision.