AL AIN - Musabbah Tarish Al Kitby, Head of the Administration Section of the Emirates Transportation Establishment (ETE) branch here, has announced that the company has readied 347 school buses for the new academic year 2006-2007 to carry 40178 students of 134 schools in Al Ain.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Al Kitby said that the buses which will pick up the students from their houses will ply on 596 routes in Al Ain City and nearby areas. Students would gather at 9230 points in the city and surrounding areas.
“The Establishment has recently completed air-conditioning of 60 per cent of the 347 buses within the Al Ain branch fleet compared with air-conditioning of 48 per cent of the 336 buses in the academic year 2005-2006, with focus on air-conditioning of buses transporting kindergarten and primary school children, besides buses meant for activities and external trips,” he said.
In addition, Al Kitby added that the ETE will also carry students of Sharaka (partnership) schools in Al Ain.
The Sharaka (partnership) schools are the schools in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi that are now under the administration of Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), but in the past, they were under the administration of the Ministry of Education (MoE). The ADEC at present works together with the MoE and educational zones in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the western region.
“In Al Ain, there are 10 Sharaka (partnership) schools and kindergartens: Al Marah Kindergarten, Mohammed Bin Khalifa School, Shaikha Bint Sorour School, Al Misk Kindergarten, Asim Bin Thabit School, Shamma Bint Mohammed School, Al Ain Children Kindergarten, Ibn Kholdon School, Zat Al Salasil School, and Al Shoa’a Children Kindergarten,” he added.
He highlighted that the ETE, Al Ain Branch will carry the model schools” students in Al Ain to and from their schools.
Starting from Saturday, August 26, the ETE, Al Ain Branch will organise a 5-days programme that contains awareness media campaign for the bus drivers in addition to exhibition in Al Ain Mall in collaboration with Al Ain Police General Directorate, Traffic and Licences Department of Al Ain Police, Al Ain Civil Defence and Awqaf Sector in Al Ain.
Al Kitby said that the ETE will honour the distinguished drivers and old employers during the programme.
ETE, Al Ain Branch has 370 drivers that included 20 newly-appointed drivers from different nationalities.