Minibuses To Be Phased Out In Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi's School Transport Committee announced this week that the use of minibuses in the Emirate will be phased out.
According to UAE newspaper, The National, the committee noted that minibuses, “lack safety and security standards and violate school transport requirements and regulations”.
Member of the committee Khaled Al Mansouri said, "The vehicles’ relatively high centre of gravity meant it was easy for drivers to lose control, and the limited space inside the vehicle was also a safety hazard, he said. “If an accident occurs, there is not a lot of space for passengers to move out. This applies to 15-seater buses as well as nine-seater buses."
He went on to note, “The bus can easily overturn on a curve when speeding. The design of the seats puts passengers too close for comfort and there are no emergency exits as in regular buses.”
It's unclear when this action will take place of if it will involve additional costs to parents, however, as the majority of bus routes are outsourced by schools it remains a possibility.
The proposal comes one year after Dubai Road Transport Authority's decision in 2013 to ban all school minibuses from the road.
Why are nursery schools not required to meet the same safety, bus, curriculum, teacher qualification standards and international accreditation as schools do. Surely nursery schools should be more stringent as they care for younger children?
Three cases in point are 1) Nursery school buses are almost always mini buses. 2) Nursery schools can call themselves British or American curriculum without having international accreditation underway or shown to be complete. 3)Safety standards - how many items in nurseries meet safety and fire safety standards from the resources and toys to flooring to shade cloth.
Finally, why do ministry inspections from KHDA and ADEC not require the same level of compliance for nursery schools that schools need? If the nursery school is just a daycare instead of a school that tracks academic progress and achievement, why not say it? Who is checking? Where can a parent check how many children the nursery school is licensed to take? Is there a formula for how many children can be in one nursery school at one time? Maybe some in the morning, some in the afternoon but only so many at one time. I know of at least one British curriculum school with the word "British"in their name that puts too many children in their classes. Parents vote with their feet and leave, but there should be a way to check the approved numbers and when the school was approved to increase their fees instead of increasing every single year.
Hi FUH,
Many thanks for your very thoughtful and interesting comment. At present, the responsibility for the operation of nurseries lies with the Ministry of Social Affairs and not with the Ministry of Education/KHDA/ADEC. This is a historical legacy. A small number of nurseries in Dubai are registered also with the KHDA, as they are registered as pre-schools. Your comment in terms of the points to look out for when considering nursery schools are very helpful and we will certainly add them to our advice to families who are looking at nursery options.