Special traffic plans and awareness campaigns will be rolled out to educate parents and children as thousands of pupils are set to return to their classes in public and private schools next month.
“Students’ safety remains a top priority,” the General Directorate of Traffic’s director general Major-General Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa said yesterday.
He stressed the importance of parents’ co-operation with traffic police to ensure joint efforts result in providing a safe travel for students.
Maj Gen Shaikh Abdulrahman
“We urge parents to comply with traffic rules and regulations and to prioritise the safety of their children during school transport, particularly in educational areas,” he said.
Ahead of the 2025-2026 academic year, Maj Gen Shaikh Abdulrahman noted that the directorate has put in place the necessary measures to ease traffic flow during peak hours.
“This includes co-ordination with relevant entities to manage traffic movement and organising awareness programmes and guidance sessions on enhancing traffic safety in school zones,” he said.
“The directorate will not tolerate violations that could endanger students’ safety. The ultimate goal is to guarantee a safe back-to-school.”
The GDN reported yesterday that traffic authorities have urged parents not to hire drivers without a licence from the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry to operate school transport.
It also advised students to board vehicles properly, remain seated throughout the journey and refrain from distracting the driver while the bus is in motion.
The Education Ministry has completed reviewing facilities at schools, including maintenance work and installing energy-efficient air conditioners in classrooms.
The ministry said that a total of 5,000 new air conditioning units have been installed in schools across the country, while a fleet of buses are ready to transport hundreds of students.
The ministry has also allocated buses for special needs children.
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