Saudi Gazette report

ABHA — Tatweer (development) company for school transport has asked the parents who are interested in using its transport system during the next academic year to register their wards from now on.

The company said registration of students should be done via the school transport section of the Noor electronic system of the Ministry of Education.

It said every student should pay an annual fee of SR200 while female teachers in remote areas should pay SR500.

The company said as many as 1,227,542 students of both genders used their transport system last year.

It said each school leader should name the transport supervisor, the school address and the means of communication with it in the Noor system.

The company said via this system, each department of education can have lists containing the names of the male and female transport supervisors in all the schools.

It said a student will be qualified to use its public transport system if his home is away from the school by at least 250 meters.

"If the number of students is less than the capacity of the bus, then the bus should be used to serve more than one school," it said.

The company said the buses used in the transport of the students and female teachers should not be more than one year old.

"The bus should be in a good condition with comfortable seats which are strongly fixed to its floor. The bus should have emergency exits which are clearly marked," it added.

According to local Arabic daily Al-Watan, the company said in case of any problem between the student and the driver, the school should be the arbitrator.

According to some parents, the company does not inform them when their is a delay in the arrival of the bus due to a technical fault or any other problem.