By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: The transportation crisis in three private schools on Sunday after bus drivers went on a flash strike demanding pay hike remained unresolved until late evening yesterday, leaving many parents angry and upset.
Hundreds of students of the Doha Modern Indian School (DMIS), Cambridge School Doha and the Cambridge International School for Girls were stranded for hours on Sunday afternoon, following the strike.
The school management sent text messages to parents last evening asking them to make alternative transport arrangements for their children since the school buses will not be operating today. “Our management is working on the issue and we are expecting a solution any time. We will inform parents as soon a decision has been taken,” DMIS Principal Jaigopal Jindal told The Peninsula at around 6.30pm yesterday. At around 10pm, several parents received text messages from the school saying buses will not be available today.
The school has also postponed some examinations following the incident. “Due to unforeseen transport issues, the SA1 exam for grades 6 to 10 and weekly test for grades 1 to 5 have been temporarily postponed. A two-day notice will be given before the revised exam/test dates,” the school said in a notice to parents published on its website.
Contacted yesterday, several protesting drivers said they had been asked by their company to quit or resume work under the existing terms and conditions. The drivers were employed by a subsidiary firm of the group running the three schools.
“The company has made it clear that there will not be any increase in salaries. We are confused what to do,” said an Asian driver. “We are not sure if we will work today (Tuesday) or not. Some drivers say they would go to work,” he added.
Most parents are, however, doubtful about an immediate solution to the crisis.
“We don’t think this problem will be solved soon if the management does not take a firm decision,” said the mother of a Grade 7 student of Cambridge School Doha. Another parent said her son had stopped using the school transport even before the new incident because “the services were very poor.”
“The drivers are very careless and their driving is hopeless. Kids even get hurt sometimes,” she said. Some parents said they were planning to take up the issue with the Supreme Education Council (SEC). “We want to bring this issue and several other problems in the school to the notice of SEC,” said a father of two children studying at DMIS.
A parent identified as ‘Cambridge parent’ expressing views on The Peninsula website yesterday said: “I call upon the Supreme Education Council to take immediate notice of this incident and the total lack of management at the Cambridge school.” The peninsula
