GPS must on your buses, govt to private schools

“All heads of private unaided schools are directed to ensure that all buses owned or hired by the school or arranged by parents to ferry children to school have GPS systems installed. (Schools are also directed to) submit a certificate in their respective zonal office that they have completed 100 per cent verification of drivers and conductors engaged in school buses owned or hired by the school or arranged by parents,” the circular reads.

It has also asked schools to “provide information with regard to details of buses owned or hired by the school or arranged by parents, which have installed GPS within 15 days” to the respective zonal department.

Schools have been directed to furnish this information as soon as possible and to also upload details of school buses and bus staff on the website of the Education department.

Taking note of the “use of illegal and unsafe RTVs and vans for transporting school children”, the department, in an earlier notification in June, had “exhorted” school principals to “sensitise parents to make use of safe transport provided by schools and abstain from sending their children in illegal vans which can prove dangerous or fatal”.