By Vinod Nair — MUSCAT: May 7 - Several bus dealers and safety solution providers are keen on working with the Ministry of Education to help improve school transport services in the country.
They were speaking to the Observer on the sidelines of the School Transport and Safety Expo 2017 in Muscat on Sunday.
The products on offer include a Mercedes bus with CCTV and rear view camera system, standard three-point seat belts, and safety and breakable glass windows, among others.
Solutions by Majees Technical services include a mobile application that connects parents with their children and the school bus, enabling them to locate their child and the bus when the child is going to school or returning home.
A company called Streemax is offering solutions such as face recognition, front collision warning, lane departure warning system, one-key alarm and smart search.
“We want to work with the Ministry of Education to offer our services, which is important for the safe transportation of students,” said Vijay Vasudevan, senior sales consultant at Majees Technical Services.
“A major concern is about young children being left behind in the bus. This is one of the frequently reported cases, besides usual road accidents,” said an automobile dealer.
“I think that is the focal point of most products on display here,” he said.
Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education, said there is a need to install sensor systems in school buses.
She said there is cooperation among several agencies in the state, society and bus owners, and they are aware of the importance of installing sensors in buses.
The government had earlier said it was working on regulations for the school transport, which will make everyone — drivers, teachers, administration and bus operators — equally responsible.
The ministry had said it was working on a pilot project in cooperation with Mwasalat and Omantel for advanced technology in buses.
The new regulations for private schools in the wake of some unfortunate incidents are related to students’ security and safety.
Even as parents have been asked to follow up on their children’s behaviour in buses, the ministry has put in place some rules for buses.
The Royal Oman Police (ROP) and the Traffic Safety Institute are coordinating to train the school bus
drivers.
There are programmes to develop the curriculum, which will include lessons on students’ security and safety.
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