UAE | General
Concern over children's safety on Abu Dhabi school buses
Many parents have stopped sending their children to school on the school bus and made alternative arrangements for their travel after child dies on school bus.
- By Binsal Abdul Kaderand Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporters
- Published: 23:53 June 17, 2008
Abu Dhabi: After my son's death many parents told me they stopped sending their children to school on the school bus and made alternative arrangements for their travel, said Shabin Sreedharan, the father of four-year-old Aatish who died on a school bus.
He spoke to Gulf News on Tuesday after visiting Abu Dhabi Educational Zone (ADEZ) officials who summoned him to explain the action taken against the school for violating the rules on the safety and security of children.
Aatish died on April 24 after being left locked in his school bus for three hours in the morning.
Compensation
"I lost my child and nothing can compensate for my family's suffering," said Sreedharan. "But now I am concerned about the nightmare of thousands of parents who fear about the safety of their school-going children. Many of them told me they have started to make their children go to bed early at night so that they will not sleep on the school bus the next day."
He added he and his wife were contemplating taking legal action to seek compensation.
"The bus driver left Aatish behind on the bus for three hours and found him later in a very serious condition," said a statement issued by the Ministry of Education (MoE) on Monday.
The driver told Gulf News on Tuesday he asked the conductor repeatedly whether all children had got off the bus. He and his transportation company's manager said they were unaware of a MoE rule that a school supervisor has to check the bus to ensure that it is empty.
The Abu Dhabi Education Zone (ADEZ) confirmed the Dh5,000 fine imposed on Merryland Kindergarten (MK) was based on a MoE bylaw regarding school fines.
According to Dr Maryam Al Ali, Director of Commission for Private Schools at the MoE, a school is closed down only if the following two offences have been committed, licensing issues and an inappropriate school building.
Latest news
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Transfusion centre launches new toll free number
- Mirror, mirror show me the way
- Last minute ID rush is on
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Car seats for children: Unsafe at any speed
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
