MPs have approved an urgent proposal to direct the Education Ministry to compel all kindergartens and public and private schools to immediately notify parents in the event of their children’s absence.
The motion, submitted by five MPs, led by Dr Abdulhakeem Al Sheno, comes after the tragic death on Monday of four-year-old Hassan Al Mahari, who was forgotten inside a private, unlicensed vehicle used to transport children to a kindergarten in Demistan.
The child, who had reportedly fallen asleep in his seat, was left inside the car from morning until noon and succumbed to heatstroke.
He was laid to rest at the School Cemetery in Barbar yesterday.
A 40-year-old female driver has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Presenting the proposal yesterday, Dr Al Sheno emphasised that the tragedy was not an isolated incident.
“Over a decade ago, we faced a similar incident,” he said.
“This swift legislative response seeks to ensure that Hassan’s death leads to a meaningful change safeguarding the lives of thousands of children across Bahrain.”
Eman Shuwaiter, a co-signatory to the proposal, stressed the need for more social supervisors to keep track of students and their well-being.
“Enhanced supervision will ensure that if a student is missing, someone will notice immediately,” she added.
Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam endorsed the proposal, calling it ‘excellent’ and stating that it “strikes a balance that could save lives and ensure students’ whereabouts are known if they miss school.
“Though supervisors on campus bear responsibility for student welfare, it is equally crucial that transportation providers perform thorough checks to ensure no child is left behind,” he added.
A memorandum accompanying the proposal explained that the core objective of the motion was to strengthen communication between parents, schools and kindergartens, thereby reducing the risk of future tragedies.
The incident has also renewed calls for stricter regulations surrounding school transport services, particularly those operating without official licences.
Legislators and education officials alike are now under pressure to implement stronger oversight mechanisms and enforce existing regulations more rigorously.
The proposal will be urgently reviewed by the Cabinet.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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