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200 IHS Pupils in Sharjah Miss the Bus

DUBAI — At least 200 pupils of the Indian High School (IHS), Garhoud campus, are yet to go to school though the school reopened last Sunday. Parents, caught unawares in the changing transport rules, are anxious that their wards do not miss any more classes.

“My daughter, studying in Grade 1, hasn’t been to school for the last three days and I am still uncertain when she can commence. We, parents, are victims of the changing rules and we really hope either the school operates buses or Sharjah Transport gives permits to private operators,” said Joseph, a parent, adding that they had little option but to wait.

On Monday, Khaleej Times reported that hundreds of students, residing in Sharjah, failed to show up for the first day of school as their private bus operator, Jawahar Transport, was denied permission to transport children from Sharjah. At least 700 children were dependent on service.

However, Sharjah Transport banned private buses from picking passengers from the emirate and dropping them in Dubai last year.

The CEO and principal of IHS, Ashok Kumar, said they had found a solution for its pupils on its main campus in Oud Metha. “We are trying to find a solution for the other parents and are meeting them this Saturday,” he said.

Shaju Thomas, manager of Jawahar Transport, was sceptical if they could ever pick children again, saying it all hinged on the Sharjah Transport authorities.

Sharjah Public Transport Corporation, meanwhile, told Khaleej Times that it had informed the emirate’s education authorities earlier this year that private buses cannot pick children from Sharjah unless the operators register the buses for the particular service with the corporation.

preeti@khaleejtimes.com

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com