MUSCAT: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology said that it is working in coordination with the Ministry of Education, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and other relevant authorities to enhance the safety of the school transportation system and ensure the provision of safe and organized transportation services for students.
Engineer Haitham bin Ahmed al Zadjali, Director of the Land Transport Department at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said that the number of school buses across the country reached 22,242. He added that North Al Batinah Governorate has the highest number of school buses with more than 4,162, followed by Muscat Governorate with approximately 3,439. He noted that the ministry regulates school transportation, issues licenses and permits for land transport vehicles to ensure compliance with the requirements and regulations governing the sector including safety and readiness requirements.
The Ministry of Education is responsible for managing and monitoring the needs of the school and allocating buses according to operational requirements. The ministry of education, he said, is also responsible for coordinating with relevant authorities, addressing issues related to school transportation, conducting oversight and monitoring, and utilizing modern technological solutions to improve the safety of school buses.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, within its jurisdiction, focuses on regulating land transport activities and verifying that carriers and means of transport meet regulatory requirements, including licenses, operating permits, and safety and road worthiness standards, the official said.
He noted that the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, coordinates among relevant entities to ensure that school transportation activities are conducted within the approved legal and regulatory frameworks and to guarantee the provision of safe school transportation that meets regulatory requirements, he said adding that student safety is a fundamental priority in the school transportation system.
Al Zadjali pointed out that the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology ensures that school transportation is conducted within the approved legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure the provision of safe transportation for students. He indicated that the ministry, in collaboration with relevant entities, is working to develop the system and enhance the use of digital solutions and modern technologies to raise safety standards and support efficient monitoring and oversight. These measures include utilizing bus tracking and monitoring systems, along with several other systems and technologies that support safety and monitoring operations, in accordance with the requirements and regulations approved by the relevant authorities.
Al Zadjali noted that the most prominent violations that fall under the ministry’s jurisdiction include engaging in land transport activities without fulfilling regulatory requirements, operating a vehicle without a valid operating license in addition to violations related to bus maintenance and equipment and failure to meet safety and security requirements. He said that upon detecting any violation, the prescribed procedures and penalties are applied according to the Land Transport Law and its implementing regulations, depending on the type of violation.
Text by Suhail bin Nasser al Nahdi
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
