Attendants a must for pupils using school bus

lwmarji
By lwmarji

Attendants a must for pupils using school buses

Sarah Gazdhar who died in a tragic accident yesterday
Operating a school bus without an attendant is an offence, inquiries made with transport departments at some schools found.
A four-and-a-half-year-old Indian kindergarten pupil died yesterday purportedly of heat and asphyxiation after she had failed to disembark from the bus when it reached her school. She was left in the vehicle for over four hours.
A transport manager at another school, managing more than 75 buses apart from hiring buses from outside for ferrying their students, said no driver was allowed to take the bus out of the campus without an attendant on board at his institution.
“If an attendant takes leave owing to some emergency, we ensure that a substitute takes is provided who would meet the requirements of those boarding the bus,” he said.
“Once or twice, we were forced to depute other staffers to do the duties as the attendants concerned were unable to work due to sudden indisposition,” said another manager.
“Even if it is a bus operated on contract, the school ensures that an attendant accompanies the children on board,” he said.
The official said that on hearing (yesterday’s) tragic news, his school management summoned a meeting of the transport staffers to advise them of the necessary precautions to be taken to avoid such tragedies.
At least two such deaths have been reported in other GCC states in the last two years. However, according to information available, this is the first time an incident such as this has occurred in a school in Qatar.

By mjamille28• 18 May 2010 16:21
mjamille28

sorry to say, but marital status has got nothing to do with it.. there are also married people who are irresponsible when it comes to raising a child.. so what do you make of that...

By slman• 18 May 2010 16:15
slman

When someone doing a work they should know and have an understanding about the job and responsibility of the work doing. When it is come to these kind of sensitive jobs, like the school buses the management should take workers suitable for it.

The driver who takes small children should understand the feelings and capacities of a child. When they understand these things whether they are in hurry or not they will tend to do the checking and caring of each child.

I prefer if the school can assign the drivers who have got married and also who has children. The real feeling of caring a child will come only when you have one.

Some people things that any couple can get babies sooner get married. But it is not the real thing. There are more things behind it in these fast world. Some couple takes 2-3 years or may be more to get a baby. Some will have complication sooner get one baby and then they will not have any more. All these things will know if the driver has a baby.

What is a child like those complication couple got caught this type tragedy.

People should open their eyes. GULF is not only for money making. You should have time to respect the humans who are living with you…

By bleu• 18 May 2010 14:38
bleu

RIP, little girl.

By shaad noor• 18 May 2010 14:12
shaad noor

it is the fault of the principal and the management both, i was teaching in India in a school and i remember that my principal always made one of the teachers accompany the students school bus morning n afternoon, at that time i thought it was not good to make a teacher do this but today i salute my principal who took extra effort to ensure the safety of the children she even made it a point that those children whose parents came to collect them were personally handed over their child we all had a duty once a week to see that the children were safe in the school n later safely sent back home.......... today as a parent i feel sorry for the parents of Sarah Gazdhar and my deepest sympathy is with them may god give them the strength to face the tragedy and live life with fond memories of Sarah Gazdhar.............

By santh001• 18 May 2010 13:38
santh001

Firstly my heartliest condolence to the bereaved family and may the almighty give the courage to the parents.

On going thru the mixed comments and emotions i too fully agree with the standards and the quality of the people managing the schools. It is more to do with the management committe,Guess they are running this organization and they have an upper hand rather then to blame the drivers and the teachers of the school. What is important that the school bus even if it is third party contract is there any SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT being formed on behalf of the school on the requirements of the safety and standards, are the drivers met with the required training in aspects of the trainings and safety standards, this is the basic whenever the school appoints the service provider. Understand that this service provider is also linked to the management committee hence this has infuenced or forced the school to use this service but to the extent of what killing one of the innocent. There is no proper sequential sitting arrangements for instance there should be proper mix and match of the sitting arrangements like the juniors should be accompanied with the seniors wherever possible. The last row of the seats should not be for juniors rather then there sitting arrangements should be adjusted in the front rows as far as possible. Apart from the driver there is no additional personnel accompanying the bus to have the proper count and attendance which can be monitored. In regards to the school building and campus if we can request the supreme council body to look into the same. The classes made of porta cabins is not safe. What is important is the school authorities should base there there thinking as below.

1) What happens in the event of fire breaks in the school as most of the school premises is being accomodated as a residential to the staff working within the schools. There may be chances of fire and the children with run hay way in the event of rescueing themselves thus resulting in falling and stampede while getting down from the staircase.

2) The toilets are pathetic and there are instances the air-condition of the classrooms are in operative, can you imagine childrens studying in this weather what would be there condition.

last by not the least this conducive saga will continue until the supreme council of body does not get involved and makes the proper snag of the school and its relative facilities. Needless to state the management committee may be very influential in getting rid of this and this will still be a history what has happened. In few days this episode will be forgotten by the people. But my request and urge is what guarantee is this may not happen with the child of the school founders. Will they blame the driver of the bus, relative teachers, principal or to their own selfish motive.

Trust the above comments will be read and looked into in order to avoid such re-occurence in future.

By RRTT• 18 May 2010 13:01
Rating: 2/5
RRTT

The Principal and the Manager shall be imprisoned. Being educated and taken such responsible positions requires them to act wisely. I am a parent who had been requesting a similar school to appoint attenders in all buses, especially for the smaller children. No body seemed to listen. Brought to the attention of Supreme Council of Education. They also didn't pay much attention, saying that I have to approach the management.

I left it there 3 years back and decided to trust God and not men. Bt it seems that he is also helpless when we act so stupidly and try to make a few bucks.

My humble request to all parents is not to accept any excuses when it comes to the safety of your children. A collective action from all parents are required when you notice any such potential dangers.(I am sure you can think about many grey areas where your child could be in danger. eg. swimming pools, reversing the buses in school compounds etc.)

By s_isale• 18 May 2010 12:49
s_isale

once the autopsy report is out can the actual reason be found.

By nomerci• 18 May 2010 12:27
nomerci

Poor little girl! I wonder, how can somebody forget a child in a school bus?

By FahRes• 18 May 2010 12:07
FahRes

Its nice that parents can be aware of their rights. If someone is not interested, they can always ignore. Most times individually complaining to schools never get any response.

By s_isale• 18 May 2010 11:48
s_isale

he thinks Qlers run a school.

By DaRuDe• 18 May 2010 11:23
DaRuDe

You need to address the school management and not The Innocent Angel Like Qlers.

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