UAE school bus tragedy: Parents concerned about absence of qualified supervisors on board

UAE school bus tragedy: Parents concerned about absence of qualified supervisors on board

Many private schools decided to limit the number of supervisors because fewer students have been using school transportation since the pandemic

File photo for illustrative purposes

Published: Sun 20 Feb 2022, 11:39 AM

Following the tragic death of a 12-year-old student who was run over by a school bus in Ajman, parents in various emirates have raised concerns about the lack of supervisors on board.

Some others complained that schools have not employed qualified supervisors who hand over students to parents, help them cross the road and assist them in carrying their heavy bags when they're getting off the bus.

The concerns were raised after investigations into the death of the 12-year-old girl — Sheikha Hassan — revealed that the bus did not have a supervisor on board.

Aisha Al Matroushi, an education expert, said many private schools decided to limit the number of supervisors and drivers because fewer students were using school transportation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

For many schools, paying salaries to supervisors and drivers — either directly or through transportation companies — was a great loss since students have been alternating between in-person classes and distance learning for two years. Parents also refused to pay schools' transportation fees since most children were at home.