Staff
The Department asserts that school administrations must ensure drivers and supervisors receive training on bus and pedestrian safety
Abu Dhabi, Oct 23, 2024: The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has emphasised that schools are fully accountable for the safety of all students and passengers on school buses throughout the journey, regardless of whether transportation services are outsourced to private operators.
ADEK asserted that school administrations must ensure that operators provide drivers and supervisors with training on bus and pedestrian safety for students in accordance with the Abu Dhabi Guideline for the Regulation of School Bus Traffic.
In a statement regarding the new school transport policy, which was recently adopted and has come into effect, the Department explained that schools are required to provide school transportation services to their students, either directly or through designated external operators, in accordance with the executive regulations related to the organisation of school transport services in Abu Dhabi.
Schools must also provide any necessary support or related services for students with additional educational needs to benefit from school bus services, the Department said. In exceptional cases where school transport services cannot be provided to individual students, the school must request an exemption from the Integrated Transport Centre (now also known as Abu Dhabi Mobility).
Schools must ensure that their student behaviour policies include provisions for behaviour during the bus journey, as per the new policy.
ADEK also pointed out that the duration of the school bus journey must not exceed the time set by the Integrated Transport Centre from the pickup point to the final drop-off point and vice versa. The Department had announced earlier that the maximum time for a single trip was set to 75 minutes.
According to the Abu Dhabi Guideline for the Regulation of School Bus Traffic, students must be picked up and dropped off at designated points. For children under 11, the bus supervisor must ensure a parent or appointed adult is present at the drop-off. If no adult is available, the supervisor must notify the school, and the child will be returned after other students are dropped off. Additionally, school buses are restricted to student transportation only.
The Department clarified that siblings aged 15 and above may receive younger siblings (grade 1 and above) if parents submit a signed consent form to the school. However, schools are not liable for incidents arising from this arrangement. Schools must also implement a plan to address parents’ concerns, prioritising safety when handling complaints.
The Department stressed that operators must propose school bus fees based on the bus fee standards set by the Integrated Transport Center in Abu Dhabi, and these must be approved by ADEK.
