Under the auspices of Hamdan bin Mohammed
400 figures from 17 countries in attendance, 35 organizations from 6 countries showcase their school transport initiatives & projects
33 speeches to be delivered, 7 panels & 4 training workshops to be held over 3 days
Dubai- Roads & Transport Authority - Mohammed Al Munji: Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, events of the International Conference for School Transportation and Exhibition 2013 will be started this morning (Sunday) in the Dubai World Trade Center. The Conference, which is held for the time in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, is co-hosted by the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) and the American National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) and continues till coming Tuesday.
About 400 individuals are attending the event including top executives of public entities engaged in school transport, manufacturers of school buses & clients, bus operators, owners of schools & educational, telecommunication providers and manufactures of surveillance technologies. About 33 personalities from 17 countries are set to deliver speeches in the Conference which will see 7 panels and 4 training workshops. Participants in the accompanying Exhibition include 35 entities and companies from 6 countries including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Canada, China, USA and the UAE.
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board & Executive Director of the RTA welcomed the participants and attendants in the Conference and wished success for the event in realizing the objectives that contribute to uplifting the school transport sector.
"The school transport is one of the key public transport sectors worldwide that lifts millions of students every day," said Al Tayer. "In view of the importance of this sector, and as the RTA is keen on providing safe & smooth transport for all students of various age groups, the RTA has regulated the school transport sector which currently has a fleet of 4000 buses transporting more than 131 thousand students in the Emirate of Dubai. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, issued Order No (2) for 2008 regulating the school transport in the Emirate of Dubai, and accordingly the RTA issued an administrative decision covering the Executive Regulations of the Order. It also compiled a manual detailing the specifications of the school bus along with the respective responsibilities of managements of schools & educational institutions, operators of school buses, drivers, students and parents," he explained.
"The holding of this Conference culminates the constructive cooperation with the American National Association for Pupil Transportation; which caters to the transportation of millions of students every day in the US. Through holding this event, we are aspiring to benefit from the best international practices, highlight the specialized local & international models adopted in the school transport, and share views of uplifting the school transport," added Al Tayer.
Training & Permits
RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director explained that the total number of school buses registered in Dubai has touched 4445 buses and the RTA, represented in Drivers Affairs Department of the Public Transport Agency, undertakes the training of drivers & conductors of school transport buses, and subjects them to theoretical & practical tests before being issued with permits for practicing their professions. The number of drivers who have been issued with school bus driving permits soared from 5581 drivers in 2010 to 6695 drivers in 2012, while the number of school bus conductors leapfrogged from 2568 conductors in 2010 to 5000 conductors in 2012.
"The RTA caters to inspecting & monitoring all school buses deployed in more than 360 public & private schools & nurseries, and issues offence tickets in respect of any breach of the law through regular and surprise site visits to schools & nurseries. The RTA has also coordinated with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) prior to the renewal of educational licenses or issuance of new ones for educational institutions. The number of NOCs issued increased from 126 NOCs in 2010 to 137 NOCs in 2012.
"The RTA is keen on beefing up the safety level in the school transport sector through holding regular awareness campaigns and training workshops, besides issuing offence tickets to operators of school buses in case of flouting the rules and governing regulations. About 2916 offence tickets were issued in 2010 and the number of offences dropped 2467 in 2012. Raising the awareness of school bus operators contributed to reducing the number of accidents made after the implementation of the School Transport Regulation from 81 accidents, 1 fatality, and 6 injuries in the school year 2006/2007 to 10 accidents in 2010, and 9 accidents in 2011.
© Press Release 2013
