UAE | Education

'We need time to air our worries on school transport'

Parents say new bus company issued circular just before end of term.

  • By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:04 June 19, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • As many schools end their term today, parents have been left with little or no time to air their apprehensions on the terms and conditions.
  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive

Dubai: Parents of children studying at Global Education Management Systems (GEMS) schools have said they refuse to sign on the dotted line unless they discuss the terms and conditions with a new private company that has been put in charge of providing school transport services.

The parents received a circular issued by the Bright Bus Transport company on Wednesday outlining the terms and conditions on school transport which is expected to be operational from September. The Al Barsha-based company has been put in charge of outsourcing transport services to over a dozen GEMS schools.

As many schools end their term today, parents have been left with little or no time to air their apprehensions on the terms and conditions.

"We as parents are required to put our signature on the terms and conditions but we need clarifications," said Jignesh Gandhi.

The majority of parents felt that the decision to send the circular just a couple of days before the end of term was a deliberate act on the part of the transport company as it left parents with no other option but to sign on the dotted line.

"The transport fees are not kept uniform in all GEMS schools. I tried to telephone the new company to get clarifications on this issue but I could not get anyone on the line. The contact number listed on the circular is constantly engaged," said Anu Zacharia whose children go to the Kindergarten Starters.

"Our intention is not to have an argument with the company but to get enough time to air our apprehensions," he added.

A company manager said the transport services will be operated in keeping with regulations issued by the Road Transport Authority, Dubai Municipality and other concerned authorities.

"We are going to run 600 buses for GEMS as of now but negotiations are on with a couple of other private schools as well," said the manager.

According to him transport services will declined only if there is a lone pupil that needs to be picked up from a certain area.

"Parents will have to compensate the company for any willful damage caused or sustained by the bus or other travellers," added the manager.

In reply to a query on why there was no uniformity in the transport fee charged, the manager said: "The transport fee is determined by the status the school enjoys."

Monthly fees

The Kindergarten Starters and Our Own High School, Al Warqa'a (depending upon route)

September 2008: From Dh200 up to Dh270

January 2009: From Dh250 up to Dh330

April 2009: From Dh300 up to Dh350

GEMS Royal Dubai School (depending upon route)

September 2008: From Dh600 to Dh800.

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