Reactions on the ban on private school transport

THEIR SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
A new academic year dawns today. Parents and students in Bangalore are geared up for the education department’s decision to advance school timings to 8.30 am and curb parents from dropping their children by private transport. While the traffic police argue there is no alternative to it, school principals say parents need to be consulted on the issue.

PRINCIPALS NOT CONVINCED

Fr Browne, principal of Frank Anthony Public School

Children should not be the first subject for experimenting to ease traffic congestion. Safety is not assured under the new rule.

T.G. Chaudhary, principal, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Victoria Road

Since the department has put the support system in place, I see no hassle in implementing it. Travelling by bus will help students grow with lot more independence and understanding of outside world. Probably there should be some relaxation for primary school students.

John Zachariah, principal, Cathedral High School

It will be too early to say whether it is a right move or not. We need to consult parents first and then see what we can do about it.

Gopalakrishna, chairman, National Public School

Parents have all the right to bring their children to school and ensure their safety. With the new rule, who will take the responsibility for children’s security? Why don’t they ban hawkers and other shopping complexes near schools? Anyway, they are just experimenting and will soon understand how appropriate it is.

Vasantha Edward, Baldwins Girls’ School

The order has come as a surprise for us and it will be too early to comment on it. But I think it infringes on the freedom of the parents. Though we are ready to cooperate with the authorities, they must make sure that it is properly implemented.

POLICE SAY IT’S ONLY WAY OUT



R. Ramalinga Reddy, Minister for primary and secondary education

Easing traffic congestion is one of the main reasons for us to advance school timings to 8.30 am and to ban private vehicles parking near 16 schools which are centrally located. We are sure congestion will come down and the move will help the general public. I want parents and school managements to cooperate in our initiative in making Bangalore a chaos-free city.

Krishna Iyer, President of Karnataka Unaided English Medium Schools Association

We agree that there is traffic congestion. But schools cannot implement anything, including the 8.30 am schedule without consulting parents. We will be able to tell them only when they come to school on Wednesday. I have convened a meeting to discuss the issue with 186 schools in the city.

M.A. Saleem, Deputy commissioner of police (traffic)

There is no other way for us than to prevent parents from dropping their children in private vehicles. Traffic is growing at a mind-boggling pace in the city. Now, sending children by public transport is perhaps the only solution to de-congest traffic.

T.M.Vijayabhaskar, Principal secretary, primary and secondary education

Since the department has consulted all related agencies including the police and transport, there should be no problem in implementing the rule which will go a long way in decongesting traffic on important roads in Bangalore.
What about fine? Reddy said he would hold discussions with the traffic police to reconsider the decision to impose a Rs 400 fine on parents who dropped children in their private vehicles to 16 schools in traffic-intense areas. “I will ask them to take into account the problems being faced by parents and children with other forms of transport,’’ he added. TNN

SEVEN WAYS TO REACH SCHOOL

By autorickshaw since there is no ban on it.
By BMTC buses.
By school buses as it is safe.
By school-hired BMTC buses as the buses are going to have lady conductors for girls’ schools. By walk, if you stay close by the school.
By cycling.
Take your car or two-wheeler but park it 200 meters away from the school to escape the traffic police.