New academic year: Dubai school students to get hi-tech buses

RTA’s Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) will roll out state-of-the-art school buses to serve about 25,000 students across the city.

The school transport fleet has been upgraded to meet the highest quality of safety in local and international standards, reported state news agency WAM.

DTC said the upgraded bus service is part of its commitment to provide quality transportation services in order to meet consumer needs.

#RTA‘s Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) is set for the new academic year 2023-2024 by rolling out advanced buses to serve about 25,000 students across Dubai. https://t.co/KEWLrooxDk@DTCUAE pic.twitter.com/eE5pBJPbry

— RTA (@rta_dubai) August 21, 2023

Ammar Rashid Al Braiki, director of Fleet Operation, DTC, said: “Using DTC’s extensive experience and resources, combined with investments in advanced technologies in school buses, highlights our strategic drive to boost the confidence of parents and the entire community while providing a safe and secure transportation environment for students during the school year.

“Such a drive which is aligned with the highest safety and monitoring standards observed in Dubai, will also promote the confidence of the Emirates Schools Establishment towards building a long-term partnership in delivering school transport services.”

How smart features are transforming the average school bus

School bus services ensure the security and monitoring of children through surveillance cameras, along with a system to ensure that no student is left behind at the end of each journey.

The buses are also equipped with a system to detect student movement in transit, and an emergency alert system for making immediate contact with the emergency management centre.

“Buses are also outfitted with advanced electronic tracking system using GPS technology and a radio frequency identification (RFID) system to streamline the boarding and disembarkation of students as well as an automatic fire-suppression system for engines,” Al Braiki added.

“DTC is eager to promote safe and responsible driving skills among school bus drivers and attendants by engaging them in specialised high-level training courses. DTC also conducts drills on the handling of emergency cases and first aid to ensure that the team is ready and able to deal with any emergencies that may arise during the school transport process,” he added.

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In other news, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has declared the dates for the new school terms for the academic year 2023-24.

The academic year has been divided into three semesters.

The KHDA has announced that Dubai private schools starting in September for the academic year 2023-2024 will start school on August 28.