ENSURING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
The MoTCIT launched a campaign to enforce school bus safety regulations while the of Education has stressed the shared responsibility for child safety
Published: 06:11 PM,Nov 30,2024 | EDITED : 10:11 PM,Nov 30,2024
ENSURING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
The safety of children on school buses remains a significant concern in the Sultanate of Oman, with recurring incidents highlighting the risks involved. Despite calls for greater attention to this issue, negligence continues to contribute to tragic accidents.
According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), 24 children under the age of 7 were victims of road accidents in 2021. This alarming statistic averages two child fatalities per month, with 84 others under the age of 7 injured, accounting for 5.3 per cent of the total traffic accident victims.
One tragic incident earlier this academic year involved a grade 10 student who was run over after disembarking from a school bus, raising concerns about the safety of school transportation.
Parents have voiced concerns over reckless driving, citing incidents of buses breaking rules, driving on footpaths, and crossing one-way streets. One concerned parent shared photos and videos of such driving and urged school authorities to take action.
A serious accident in April 2023 involving a car and a minibus transporting students in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate left 16 children injured. The Ministry of Education has emphasised the need for improved safety measures and urged all stakeholders to be vigilant, both inside and outside the school.
'The safety of school children is a shared responsibility,' said a school principal. 'It’s crucial that every stakeholder, including parents, bus drivers, teachers, and the wider community, ensure the safety of our children.'
Despite measures being implemented, such as meetings between school authorities and concerned parties, reckless driving persists, undermining safety protocols. The Ministry of Education has urged bus drivers to ensure children disembark on the same side of the road as their homes to reduce the risk of crossing busy streets.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT) has launched a campaign to ensure that school bus operators adhere to safety regulations, with a focus on compliance with the Land Transport Law and other safety requirements for student transportation.
As part of Oman’s broader focus on student health and safety, the government has introduced the National School and University Health Plan (2024-2025), emphasising the need for a safe school environment for students aged 7 to 18.
According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), 24 children under the age of 7 were victims of road accidents in 2021. This alarming statistic averages two child fatalities per month, with 84 others under the age of 7 injured, accounting for 5.3 per cent of the total traffic accident victims.
One tragic incident earlier this academic year involved a grade 10 student who was run over after disembarking from a school bus, raising concerns about the safety of school transportation.
Parents have voiced concerns over reckless driving, citing incidents of buses breaking rules, driving on footpaths, and crossing one-way streets. One concerned parent shared photos and videos of such driving and urged school authorities to take action.
A serious accident in April 2023 involving a car and a minibus transporting students in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate left 16 children injured. The Ministry of Education has emphasised the need for improved safety measures and urged all stakeholders to be vigilant, both inside and outside the school.
'The safety of school children is a shared responsibility,' said a school principal. 'It’s crucial that every stakeholder, including parents, bus drivers, teachers, and the wider community, ensure the safety of our children.'
Despite measures being implemented, such as meetings between school authorities and concerned parties, reckless driving persists, undermining safety protocols. The Ministry of Education has urged bus drivers to ensure children disembark on the same side of the road as their homes to reduce the risk of crossing busy streets.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT) has launched a campaign to ensure that school bus operators adhere to safety regulations, with a focus on compliance with the Land Transport Law and other safety requirements for student transportation.
As part of Oman’s broader focus on student health and safety, the government has introduced the National School and University Health Plan (2024-2025), emphasising the need for a safe school environment for students aged 7 to 18.