DUBAI — The Ministry of Education and Emirates Transport have reached a tentative agreement on the issue of transportation of students.
Sources have revealed that the ministry will spend nearly Dh377 million on transportation of students during the next academic year.
Sources in Emirates Transport said a full-fledged agreement has still not been entered into by both sides as there were some points of disagreement. The sources added that Dh280.08 million, the value of the annual contract for 2007-2008, had been approved by the Ministry of Education specifically for Emirates Transport.
However, the Ministry of Education was surprised when the value of the contract, submitted by Emirates Transport, was increased by Dh96.09 million.
After prolonged negotiations, it was agreed that because Dh280.08 million had been budgeted for 2007-2008, the difference of Dh96.09 million would be adjusted in 2008-2009. The sources added that the Ministry of Education would cover part or all of the additional expenditure incurred by Emirates Transport in 2007-2008.
Meanwhile, the MoE has asked Emirates Transport to adopt the 'trips' system. The current system being followed by Emirates Transport is that male students are transported first and then the female students. But Emirates Transport has declined the request citing difficulties as well as the high expenditure involved in implementing the idea as that would mean increasing the number of buses.
The sources added that if the MoE's request is entertained, Emirates Transport would have to induct 476 more buses, which will enhance the annual contract value.
By Mohsen Rashid (Our staff reporter)