MUSCAT: Behind the joy and excitement of back to school lies a growing concern among parents and society because each year, tragic accidents claim the lives of innocent children due to negligence or failure to follow simple safety instructions.
At the outset of this academic year, the Ministry of Health renewed its call to parents through its awareness campaign titled 'For a Safe School Journey' to play an active role in instilling safe practices in their children during their daily commute to and from school. The campaign comes at a critical time when traffic congestion typically increases, raising the likelihood of errors or violations with potentially dire consequences. The ministry’s message was not just a set of formal recommendations but a clear call that children’s lives are a trust, and their protection begins with simple daily behaviours that can shield them from serious dangers.
The campaign emphasised the importance of teaching children to wait for the bus in safe areas away from the street, and to board or alight only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop. It also highlighted the need to avoid risky habits practised by some students, such as sticking their heads or hands out of windows or engaging in disruptive behaviour that may distract the driver and endanger everyone on board.
Responsibility, however, does not rest on the student alone. The driver plays a pivotal role in ensuring safety. Adhering to traffic rules, maintaining composure on the road, and ensuring students board and disembark in an orderly manner are all crucial elements of a safer journey. The presence of a supervisor on some buses further enhances safety, helping to maintain order inside the bus and assisting younger children, particularly those in early grades.
In the first week of the school year, an atmosphere of excitement was observed among students carrying their school bags with bright faces, while parents carefully accompanied their children to bus stops, ensuring drivers adhered to the necessary procedures. The Royal Oman Police also intensified its presence around schools to regulate traffic and reduce congestion, which poses an additional challenge at such times. Yet all these efforts remain limited in impact if each individual does not fulfil their role in the safety equation.
Abdullah al Muqbali, father of two elementary school students, said that what worries him most is his children’s daily bus ride. He explained that from day one, he constantly reminds them to rush when getting off the bus, as their safety is his top priority.
He added that parents’ role is no less important than that of drivers or schools, because real responsibility begins at home, by instilling proper habits in children. He stressed that dedicating a few moments each day to accompany a child when boarding the bus in the morning or receiving them in the afternoon creates a sense of security, prevents risks and helps build positive habits that will stay with the child even when parents are not present.
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