In a statement regarding the new school transport policy, which was recently adopted and came into force, the Department explained that schools are required to provide school transport services to their students, either directly or through external operators. designated, in accordance with the executive regulation. related to the organization of school transport services in Abu Dhabi.

Schools must also provide any necessary support or related services to students with additional educational needs to benefit from school transportation services. In exceptional cases where school transport services cannot be provided to individual students, the school must apply for an exemption from the Integrated Transport Center (now also known as Abu Dhabi Mobility).

Under the new policy, schools must ensure that their student behavior policies include provisions for behavior while on the bus. Students should treat the school bus environment as an extension of the school environment and follow school rules related to behavior while riding. The department added that schools are responsible for communicating with parents and providing educational information in accordance with Abu Dhabi’s guidelines for regulating school bus traffic.

ADEK also stressed that the duration of the school bus journey should not exceed the time set by the Integrated Transport Center from the pick-up point to the final drop-off point and vice versa. Students must be picked up and dropped off at designated points in accordance with Abu Dhabi’s guidelines for regulating school bus traffic. The bus supervisor must ensure that a parent or an adult designated by the parent is present to greet each student under the age of 11 at the drop-off point. In the absence of such an adult, the supervisor must inform the school so that the child can be returned after the other students have been dropped off. School buses must not be used to transport passengers other than students.

The ministry added that older siblings (15 years and older) are allowed to receive their younger siblings (1st grade and older) in place of the adult designated by the parents, but only when the parent submits a signed consent form to the school. Schools are not responsible for any incidents resulting from this policy. Schools must establish a plan to address parent concerns, with safety being the primary consideration when evaluating complaints.

The department stressed that operators must propose school bus fares based on bus fare standards set by the Abu Dhabi Integrated Transport Centre, and these must be approved by ADEK.

He also said that students must be transported on school trips using school buses that meet the technical requirements outlined in the Abu Dhabi Guidelines for the Regulation of School Bus Traffic. This includes trips covering distances greater than 80 km. If it becomes necessary to use tourist buses, they must meet the following technical requirements: seat belts, fire extinguishers, automatic engine fire extinguishing system, first aid kits, emergency exits, cameras ( if available), comprehensive insurance for the driver and passengers. , and registration of tourist buses in the fleet system of the Integrated Transport Center.

All future technical requirements must also be met and the school must inform the Integrated Transportation Center when using tour buses for excursions. Schools are responsible for tracking these types of trips and must inform parents of the type of bus to be used in school trip consent forms.