Parents say outsourcing of bus service is just a ruse to make money

Dubai: "It is an open market and I am not forcing anyone to use my buses," said the managing director of the Bright Bus Service (BBS), a private company that will soon provide school transportation in the UAE.

Our Own English School Sharjah is one school that recently decided to outsource its bus transportation services. The school sent parents a circular saying that transportation charges would increase from Dh150 to Dh300 per month.

Disgruntled parents whose children attend Gems managed schools are of the opinion that the outsourcing is a carefully planned ruse to make more money.

BBS managing director Captain M.L. Augustine rejected claims made by parents that the Bright Bus Service is owned by the Varkey Group of schools, on whose board he is a member.

Prior to joining BBS, Augustine was employed by Global Education Management Systems (Gems), which manages several schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

In a letter to Gulf News some parents claimed: "We all know that Bright Bus Service is owned by Varkey Group, and Capt. M.L. Augustine, who is managing director of BBS is one of the members of [the] management board of Varkey Group of schools.

"This whole plot has been planned in an organised manner to fool parents as the website of this transport company clearly says it [was] registered only last year [in] June 2008.

The parents questioned why schools would agree to outsource a crucial service to a company that was only one year old unless it had some connection to them.

Another parent said: "Such a reputed educational institute should not [take advantage of] parents like this in the name of school fees..."

When contacted, Augustine denied any association with the Varkey Group of schools.

"I used to be with Gems, but now I am not on their visa. Let me clarify that Bright Bus Service Company is not owned by Varkey Group of schools. Today there are many schools that find it difficult to run transportation on their own and so many have decided to outsource this facility," Augustine said.

"The Roads and Transport Authority clearly lays down certain specifications [for items] that need to be fitted on school buses. For example, the seatting capacity [has to be reduced from 80 seats to 44 seats], buses should be painted yellow in colour, all buses are required to be fitted with signboards and speed governors. We need to get these things from the US and they are not available in the local market."

Augustine said that it would cost Dh45,000 to upgrade a vehicle so that it could be used as a school bus.

"We have 200 buses running. To run an 80-seat capacity school bus it will cost BBS over Dh10,000. A driver salary adds up to Dh5,420 [including accommodation, visa cost, airfare, gratuity, etc]. Similarly, a bus conductor is paid Dh3,200."