Mumbai: Verify school bus drivers’ background, including instances of reckless driving and past accidents before hiring. This is among the new rules listed in the latest government resolution (GR) issued by education department for schools across the state to ensure students’ safety during transport. “For students using private transport, parents must inform the school management about the driver’s verification and identity details. Additionally, parents should maintain personal information about the drivers for security purposes,” the GR stated.Weekly drug and alcohol screening should be made mandatory for school bus drivers, cleaners, and female attendants both before the morning pickup and drop-off journeys, the GR stated. It added that school principals must ensure that drivers prevent unauthorised people from boarding buses carrying students.Govt has also asked all schools to establish an alert system to provide immediate notifications if a child is missing from school or fails to board their designated bus. As per the GR issued last week, school management must implement additional safety measures, including installing GPS in buses and conducting safety training programmes for transport staff. The GR also encourages recruitment of female school bus drivers.Swati Popat Vats, president of Early Childhood Association, said: “These points about background check, driver verification, GPS, appointment of female drivers, and weekly drug and alcohol screening, are great for ensuring the safety of children in school buses. Some additional points that should have been added are compulsory training on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and screening of their phones for ‘inappropriate’ content.“Bombay Scottish principal Sunita George said: “At our school, the PTA, a body more vigilant than vocal, inspects what most would overlook — the school bus. No driver pulls up to the school gate without police verification…External vehicles are discouraged — unless there’s a reason that can’t be walked away from.” George further said that should a driver show signs of recklessness, the response is swift. “Each bus is fitted with GPS and cameras,” she added.Sanjay Patil, School Principals’ Association president, suggested that state govt should appoint a district committee to check drivers’ details. “Some drivers hail from other states and it’s difficult to get their police verification. RTO and police should help schools in such cases,” Patil said. School Bus Owners’ Association head Anil Garg said: “This GR has established clear accountability by stating that the school principal will be held responsible for the safety of children during transportation.”
