DOHA: CMC members have asked the Supreme Education Council (SEC) to appoint Qataris and other Arabs as bus supervisors for Independent schools.
The recommendation was made following a debate initiated by Jassim bin Abdullah Al Malki, Deputy Chairman, CMC.
Al Malki asked authorities to increase vigil and select bus supervisors, especially for young children.
“There are always reports of our children having language and cultural problems with non-Arab school bus supervisors,” he said. “Independent schools should consider Qataris and then other Arabs for these posts to solve the communication problem.”
Some members, however, at first disagreed, argued that it was difficult to find Qataris willing to work as bus supervisors.
“It will be very difficult to hire Qataris as supervisors, a post they consider not good. No citizens will turn up for these posts even when announced,” said Councillor Mohammed bin Salem Al Qamra.
But Al Malki said the appointment of Qataris on these posts should be a priority, not mandatory, and the council approved the recommendation after a majority vote with show of hands.
Mohammed Abdullah Ali, Director, Transport, the SEC, said their priority has always been to hire Qataris first and then other Arab nationals but because of Qataris and Arab women not willing to work as school bus supervisors, they had sometimes recruited Asians.
Councillors also asked schools to be stricter on the conduct and behaviour of supervisors, ensure that they have skills to handle young children and training in first aid to respond to emergencies like accidents and fires in school buses.
They said school buses should have cameras to monitor supervisors’ interaction with children.
They said school bus drivers should be trained and should know that they are dealing with young, sensitive children and should not drive until children have safely left the bus and the doors are closed.
According to Ali, there are 1,850 Independent schools buses equipped with safety and trained drivers and supervisors.
The Peninsula
