UAE | General
Ministry looks into boy's death on school bus
The Ministry of Education's legal department has begun investigating the death of a boy on a school bus in Abu Dhabi last month after receiving a report on the incident.
- By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:52 May 11, 2008
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Education's legal department has begun investigating the death of a boy on a school bus in Abu Dhabi last month after receiving a report on the incident, Gulf News has learnt.
The Abu Dhabi Educational Zone (ADEZ) submitted a report by a three-member committee to the ministry.
"We received the report from ADEZ today [Sunday] and have started our investigation," a senior official at the legal department of the Ministry of Education in Dubai told Gulf News.
"We will talk to school and transport staff," said the official who requested to remain anonymous. He did not comment on the ADEZ report, which found serious lapses on the part of the school caused the death of the child.
Aatish Shabin, 4, a pupil at Merryland Kindergarten on Muroor Road in Abu Dhabi, died on April 24 when he was left behind on a school bus for three hours.
Rules not followed
"We will take action against whoever was responsible for his death," said the official.
He did not elaborate on what action could be taken in such circumstances. "It depends on the findings of our investigation."
Another senior official said the committee appointed by ADEZ found his life could have been saved if the school had followed the rules issued by the Ministry of Education for the safety and security of children.
"A supervisor from the school has to keep a list of pupils on the bus and has to check the bus before the doors are closed," said Mohammad Salem Al Daheri, Director of ADEZ.
"The safety and security during transportation of children is the responsibility of the school," he said.
Merryland Kindergarten in a statement issued to Gulf News had previously said it was not responsible for the incident as transportation was assigned to a private company.
Shabin Sreedharan, Aatish's father, told Gulf News, he was eagerly awaiting the Ministry of Education's decision.
Share this article
Popular in UAE
-
Have your say
Living in untidy homes
Do you think that people who live in untidy homes have bad character?
Latest news
- Khalifa congratulates Karzai on re-election
- Khalifa receives congratulatory call from Talabani
- Complaints against cab drivers decline
- Camel in RAK gives birth to twins
- No hike in water, electricity rates
- Thalassaemia website 'will help educate youth'
- Saif is appointed Emiratisation chief
- Experts call for reviewing green cost of desalination
- Readers: Less water usage means less desalination
- Dubai Police open centre to combat marine pollution
- Pavement parking irks pedestrians
- Man jailed 3 years in fatal assault of colleague
- Murder: Mother gets stiffer sentence
- Traffic Prosecution adopts humanitarian step
- 'All-green' project to ease traffic flow
Community Reports
-
Pavement parking irks pedestrians
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to step in and stop car owners from invading pathways meant for safe walking
-
Faded parking lines pose a problem
Motorists could be fined for parking incorrectly even though they can hardly see the boundaries in the designated areas
-
School buses block residential parking
Commercial vehicles taking up free parking facilities in Al Wuheida, inconveniencing residents in surrounding villas
-
Community report: Doing their bit for poor children
A group of students takes concrete action to raise funds for Dubai Cares
