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Bus Problem Still Dogs Dubai Students in Sharjah
Parents had been relying on private operators for several years since the school has limited bus stops in Sharjah
- PUBLISHED: Tue 9 Sept 2008, 1:34 AM UPDATED: Thu 4 Jul 2024, 3:02 PM
dubai - Indian High School (IHS) students residing in Sharjah continue to face problems commuting to school, despite the school's promises to provide bus services to a few grades.
The fate of boys in the junior school remains uncertain as the school is yet to finalise transport details, while parents of kindergarteners fear their wards may end up spending more time in the bus than in their class, due to the new schedules.
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Beginning today, the school will pick up students of KGI, KGII and girls of Grades I to IV living in Sharjah. CEO and principal of IHS, Ashok Kumar, said in a written statement.
“Initially, the buses will ply on a limited stops route after which, the route will gradually be expanded and number of stops increased.
“For the students of higher classes, the school has been providing two buses on the Sharjah route since April last year.”
Last week, Khaleej Times had reported that scores of IHS students from the main campus in Oud Mehta and branch campus in Garhoud were unable to turn up for classes for over a week since their hired bus operator, Jawahar Transport, was banned by the Sharjah Transport authorities from picking up children from Sharjah and dropping them in Dubai.
Parents had been relying on private operators for several years since the school has limited bus stops in Sharjah.
Despite the school's attempt to resolve the issue, parents, whose sons are studying from Grade I to Grade IV, still face the problem.
“The school has sorted out the problem for the kindergartners and girls from junior classes. :
“However, I am still dropping and picking up my son everyday at the school since authorities are expected to hold a meeting with us later this week,” said a parent, hoping the school would offer a feasible solution quickly.
Another parent, whose child will start using the bus Wednesday, said the school bus is expected to pick up children as early as 5.30am since the bus has to pick up girls from the high school and reach the school by 8.30am.
“Similarly, after school ends, they are expected to wait for a couple of hours till the girls finish school, go to the main campus and then change buses to reach home about two hours later.
Effectively, my child may end up spending more time in the bus than at school,” remarked the parent.
preeti@khaleejtimes.com
