It's Back-To-School time for Bahrain students!

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Report by Zahra Ayaz

As schools reopen their doors today, stringent safety measures have been implemented to ensure the wellbeing of students, say school officials.

Principals and administrators have been actively coordinating efforts to create a secure environment for both students and staff members, officials said.

Dropoff Zone

One critical area of focus is the management of traffic near school gates, according to school officials.

Recognising the potential risks and to avoid congestion during peak hours, schools have deployed trained security guards to monitor and regulate traffic flow, they said.

Mr. Kollath Gopinath Menon, principal of The New Indian School, emphasised the importance of managing traffic effectively. He shared, "The school timings are from 7.45 a.m. to 1.15 p.m., and school buses start arriving from different locations between 7.20 a.m. and 7.30 a.m., gradually filling up until 7.45 a.m.

Early Birds

Mr. Menon told The Daily Tribune that the transport coordinators and vice principals arrive on campus early to oversee the flow of children within the school premises, as many parents drop off their children earlier to accommodate work schedules and to avoid morning traffic.

"Almost all buses are equipped with teachers who serve as bus in-charges, responsible for overseeing students and keeping a record of their names.

In addition, these teachers play a crucial role in reporting absenteeism to the transport coordinator and respective class teachers," he added.

Organised Movement

Mr. Menon highlighted the importance of the organised movement of students, stating that the children are escorted in a line from the buses to their classrooms in the morning and back in the afternoon.

Bus drivers have been instructed to conduct regular checks to prevent any child from being left behind, he said.

He continued, saying, "During the afternoon, kindergarten (KG) students are boarded onto the buses by 12.45 p.m. and seated with their teachers, ensuring their safe departure from the school premises. "For students who are picked up by their parents, schools have designated a waiting hall where they can wait until their parents arrive.

This designated area provides a safe and secure environment for students during pick-up times," he noted.

Trained Staff

In an interview with The Daily Tribune, Mrs. Lovy Joseph, Director of Asian School, emphasised their unwavering commitment to student safety.

She highlighted, "Our top priority has always been to ensure the safety of children when they enter and exit the school premises.

"Our security guards and support staff are extensively trained to diligently monitor traffic near the school gates, ensuring that vehicles adhere to safe drop-off and pick-up practices," she said.

Designated Spaces

Mrs. Joseph further mentioned, "Regarding parking arrangements, we have designated specific areas for parents during drop-off and pick-up times.

Additionally, we have allocated a separate area for private vans, facilitating the safe movement of students."

Meanwhile, in preparation for the back-to-school season, the General Directorate for Traffic Services has also conducted training workshops for community service police and school guards.

The workshops aimed to enhance their skills in traffic management and ensure student safety.