In an effort to sensitise school authorities and drivers and conductors of school vehicles, the district administration, along with the district transport department, will start a refresher course for drivers soon.
The department also plans to conduct surprise checks in schools. The district transport department will check the status of school buses as per directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana high court under a transportation scheme called 'Safe School Vaahan'.
District education officer (secondary) Harinder Pal Singh said all schools (more than 200) had deposited the affidavit barring two-three schools on the outskirts of the district.
Schools had to submit an affidavit that they would upgrade the buses in consonance with the directions of the court, including colour of the vehicle, speed governor, qualifications of bus driver and conductor, traffic rules, uniforms, first aid and fire extinguisher.
The affidavit also holds the school management responsible for any accident involving a school vehicle.
"Those who have not submitted the affidavit will be checked to see if they are following the rules as per the high court directives. We will check the school vehicles on a daily basis and have started challaning erring drivers," said RP Singh, district transport officer.
He added that a meeting with the deputy commissioner would be held to further streamline the campaign by organising a refresher course for drivers and conductors of school vehicles.He said the training of the conductors and drivers would be conducted in collaboration with the administration and the roadways department.
{{/usCountry}}He added that a meeting with the deputy commissioner would be held to further streamline the campaign by organising a refresher course for drivers and conductors of school vehicles.He said the training of the conductors and drivers would be conducted in collaboration with the administration and the roadways department.
{{/usCountry}}Deputy commissioner KK Yadav said the schools had been asked to submit a detailed list of bus drivers and conductors of the school buses after which they would start the course.
The administration will also ask the schools to appoint a senior faculty or vice principal as nodal officer, termed as 'traffic marshal', to create awareness among the drivers and conductors about traffic rules.