Schools confused over bus rules implementation

Updated on: Thursday, May 05, 2011

Even though the government has invoked the provisions of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) Act 2011, schools are apprehensive about implementing it.

School authorities say they may face a lot of hurdles like finding the right bus operators, listing information about students and above all convincing parents. “We discussed the schoolbus safety policy with parents but most of them were worried about the fees. We tried to convince them that taking the school bus will be a safer bet for their children, who otherwise travel in crammed autos or BEST buses. But they still didn’t accept our proposal,” said Rekha Shahani, principal of Kamla High School in Khar (W).

“This policy is meant for the safety and security of children. Parents pay a lot on private vehicles but are not sure about the safety of their kids. If they agree to send their children by school bus, they will be spending the same amount,” said Indrani Malkani, member of the government-appointed committee which was set up for drafting the bus safety norms.

Some schools complained about the ‘cumbersome’ process of collecting information and filling documents before the start of the academic year. “The government has done a good job by implementing the school bus safety policy, but schools have very little time now to gather all information about students, especially when most have gone on vacation. We also need to find a proper bus operator that adheres to all the rules,” said a principal of an ICSE school.

Schools confused over bus rules implementation

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