Safer school run

Thousands of children have just gone back to school. Parents who cannot drive their children to school and who have to rely on the school transport worry because of the way some mini-buses are driven.

There have been incidents involving schoolchildren varying from a child falling off a bus to unbecoming behaviour by some driver.

Companies dealing with school transport have their share of responsibilities. They have to make sure drivers employed by them are reliable, of good conduct, able to deal with children, patient, ready to wait for children boarding the bus to be seated before driving off.

Since a good number of children are picked up as early as 6.30 a.m. or 6.45 a.m., it is important to make sure that picking-up points are well lit. Not all parents can accompany their offspring to the bus stop and see them off in the mini bus.

Having supervision on school buses would be ideal. Perhaps the school councils might do something about this.

Supervision is also needed when children arrive on the school premises. Having the school main door open is not good enough. Children (especially young ones) can't be left to fend for themselves, not even wandering about on school grounds. They can easily sneak out onto the road again.

Pointing a guilty finger when an accident happens would be too late.