Now, students to be accompanied by parent, guardian or teacher apart from school attendant
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: School buses should compulsorily have a parent, guardian or teacher travelling with their wards to ensure their safety, in addition to an attendant from the school, government has decreed, putting the entire responsibility for the students’ safety on the bus owners, not just in case of accidents.
The state government in a bid to regularize and rationalize the school bus transportation, especially in view of the societal pressure after recent sexual assaults on children, highlighted by the assault on the seven year old at a Vasco school has come up with stringent measures in their contract with bus owners.
Doors should have safety locks, windows should have horizontal grills and a fire extinguisher should be compulsorily in the bus the conditions by state government mandate which are in tune with Supreme Court orders for school buses transporting students.
Government has also decreed that all school buses should now be painted yellow, should not be more than three years old, and should have a sign board.
The buses on a three year contract should have the capacity to carry 32+1 and have to make alternate arrangements for the transportation of children to and fro in case of any breakdown in the bus. The government has clearly said that in case no alternative is provided then the government would do it and charge the contractor Rs 2000 for every day the contractor fails to make alternate arrangements.
The state has almost finalized transportation in government schools at Ponda, Bicholim, Sattari, Dharbandora, Bardez, Pernem, and Bicholim.
