DUBAI - The Arab Unity School, Dubai, will soon introduce specific pickup points for students living in one area from January, instead of school buses picking up students individually from near their homes.
Earlier this month, the school had sent a note to parents suggesting it may have to cut down on some routes by the year-end so that students were not held up in traffic.
However, after a number of parents disapproved of the move, the school has come up with an alternative plan.
Parents, while, breathing a sigh of relief at the school’s decision, hoped that the new stops were not too far away from their homes.
“We have sent another circular to parents suggesting some points, where we can pick up students.
“We never thought of scrapping any routes,” said Zainab Taher, founder director of the school, adding that the details of stops were being worked out.
“Instead of stopping everywhere, we think it would be easier for the buses to make a single stop on one street.
“Parents have expressed support for the decision as it would be easier to overcome traffic.”
The school has given each driver area maps with the new drop-off points, which will be handed over to students soon.
Pupils residing in Sharjah, Ajman and some parts of Dubai have been affected by traffic jams.
Welcoming the parents’ decision, a parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “This is better than scrapping any of the routes and the move could help the buses reach the school on time.”
Another student, who asked not to be named, said: “This step by the school is certainly better than missing classes. Parents can car-pool to take turns in dropping their wards at the bus stops.”
Preeti Kannan