DOHA: Parents of one of the three private schools facing transport crisis are planning to take up the issue with the Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council (SEC) H E Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi on Tuesday, as the management struggles to find a solution to the problem.
The Doha Modern Indian School (DMIS), the Cambridge School Doha and the Cambridge International School for Girls have been facing the transport crisis since Sunday when bus drivers went on a flash strike for salary hike.
Although it was learnt that the issue had been taken up with the Labour Department and the problem was being solved, the school management yesterday said: “The issue is being sorted between the drivers and the company.”
All the three schools are owned by the Taleb Group and over 100 drivers involved in the strike were employed by Al Watan International Trading and Contracting Company, a subsidiary of the group.
Many children were stranded at the schools on Sunday as bus services stopped after the strike, putting many students and parents in a difficult situation. Buses will not be available today.
Some parents of Doha Modern Indian School have taken up the issue with the SEC by calling the number provided on its website to contact the minister. They were directed to contact the person in charge of private schools at the SEC. However, parents have decided to meet the minister on Tuesday, which is a ‘public day’ where people could meet him without a prior appointment.
“Whoever answered our telephone call said that they are only aware that the strike is going on by bus drivers of three schools,” said a parent of two boys studying at DMIS.
“We will call the person in charge of private schools; however we will take up the issue with the minister on Tuesday as we have no option. The school administration is unable to give us a clear answer,” he added.
Parents living in far off places like Duhail are finding it difficult to arrange alternative transport for their children.
“I can’t take my children to school and bring them home because of the distance, traffic and my job. They haven’t been to school since Monday,” said a parent living in Duhail.
“There are many children facing the same problem, all these children are missing out a lot,” he added. Parents have paid transport fee for all three terms together. Each term cost QR1,290.
Parents were asked last evening via text messages to make alternative transport arrangements for their children as buses will not be available today. Similar messages were sent on Monday and Tuesday as well.
“The problem is not fully solved. But parents might have to bear the burden only for Thursday (today),” said DMIS Principal Jaigopal Jindal. The Peninsula
