Muscat - The Ministry of Education's (MOE) school bus tracking system, unveiled last week, has received positive reviews from both private and government schools in Oman. Participating in the recently held Comex event, officials in the MoE's networking department, said a survey was conducted, which was based on the inputs from Omani and expatriate parents. The ministry officials said that all schools in Oman will be encouraged to opt for this system in the wake of increasing number of accidents, involving school students. The future transport contracts will have a mandatory provision for buses to have such facilities.
The pilot project introduced at one of the government schools will be gradually implemented in more schools from the next academic year, including private schools, with plans for extensive campaigns to promote the Smart Bus System. The system has been developed with Al Mada Electronic System in association with Madar Vehicles Tracking Company (an Omani enterprise). Omar Mohammed, CEO, Madar, told the Observer that around 15 public as well as private schools have responded positively to this system. Manager of a school bus operating company said these facilities will naturally come at an extra cost and it is for the parents to take a call.
"If the costs are within my spending range, I will suddenly support this system and appreciate MoE's efforts to regulate the school transport system and also driver behaviour," Seema, a parent said.
The tracking system will help parents get a text message informing that the school bus is approaching the house for a pick/up. Parents can track the school bus that carries their children and know exactly what time they reach home or school. Cameras will be installed both inside and outside the bus to monitor the surroundings and alert the driver in case of any adverse situations. The system works through tracking vehicles by satellites and the buses will be equipped with the GPRS device to send information about the vehicle's actual locations in the map in time to the Internet.
Other benefits include sending SMS to notify parents of the bus arrival to the gathering point (home or apartments.); ease the tension felt usually when the bus is absent or late; students will be never left alone on the streets waiting for the bus; avoid exposure to hot sun, humidity and cold weather; Parents will also avoid waiting with their kids for The bus; driver will not be forced to wait for the student, which may cause delays. In case the bus brakes down on the road for any reason, an SMS will be sent with the bus location to the operation centre, school and parents notifying the failure. SMS can be sent from schools to parents as notifications of incidental breakdowns occur due to causes beyond and control.
This bus tracking system has been approved by the Directorate-General of Education for both public as well as private schools in Muscat. Parents will get a password that enables them to log on to the system using phones and monitor school bus movement live via satellites and GPRS, showing how long does it takes for the bus to get from school to house and vice versa. Payments for this system are to be paid to the school.
© Oman Daily Observer 2016
