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Nationals as school bus supervisors in Abu Dhabi
Nationals as school bus supervisors in Abu Dhabi Olivia Olarte-Ulherr / 27 August 2013 When classes at public schools open on September 8, school bus checks will be carried out by Emiratis who are newly employed to serve as school bus supervisors. “A total of 550 existing positions will be replaced by Emiratis between September 2013 and January 2014” following a phased approach, said Engineer Khaled Al Ansari, school services manager at the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec). The move is part of the Emiratisation plan by the council — to create 678 new jobs as school bus supervisors (escorts) and provide sustainable employment opportunities for UAE nationals in the education sector. “The roll-out will depend upon the actual demand for buses, the availability of resources and the procedures of Emirates Transport. Female bus supervisors will (also) be employed for all Kindergarten and Cycle 1 (Grades 1-5) schools,” he added. Public school bus service provider Emirates Transport is collaborating with the Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council to select the Emirati candidates for the position. “So far, Tawteen have received CVs and conducted orientation sessions and interviews with suitable candidates,” Al Ansari told Khaleej Times. All bus escorts will be provided comprehensive training by Emirates Transport. According to Al Ansari, this strategy will contribute to the learning and growth of Emiratis, in addition to responding to community requests for their greater involvement in school-related activities. “Supervising the health and safety of students whilst they are in transit also provides an important opportunity for enhancement of cultural traditions and positively influencing student behaviour.” Asked if the Emiratis are willing to work as bus supervisors, Al Ansari said: “Yes, many Emiratis are very keen to be involved in the supervision of students on the buses as this provides them with a great opportunity to promote safety and assist in the growth and behavioural guidance of our young people.” Bus supervisors’ primary responsibility is to ensure the health and safety of his or her wards whilst travelling to and from school. This includes ensuring they are properly seated with seat belts fastened when the bus is in motion, that all children have disembarked and that those below 11 years are personally collected by a guardian at the drop off. They are also required to participate in educating students about traffic safety and the proper demeanour inside the bus. There are currently 1,791 school buses serving the public schools across the emirate. For the new academic year, 76 additional buses will be introduced to cover new residential areas, including Al Falah City. As part of the Department of Transport’s (DoT) safety and security measures, schools buses are required to be equipped with a CCTV system with an audio and video recording capability, which can be accessed wireless in case of emergency, and with a storage capacity of at least four weeks. At least four external cameras should be fixed to cover all sides of the bus showing the front, entrance, rear and when the bus is in reverse; with a monitoring screen on the dashboard in front of the driver. A GPS system should also be in place to monitor the movement and location of the buses. – olivia@khaleejtimes.com Responsibilities of school bus escorts > Ensure that all students are seated while the bus is moving and are using seatbelts where they are provided. No student is to be seated in the central seat or the rear row > Ensure that no student is left on board at the final destination > Ensure students under 11 years returning home are dropped off with a guardian. In case the guardian is not available, inform the school that the student is being returned to the school after the remaining students are dropped off > Ensure students behave and look after their safety during the journey. Report any incidents to the school transport coordinator > Ensure doorways, aisles and emergency exits are clear of any obstructions during the journey > Assist students in crossing the streets > Assist in evacuating the bus in case of an emergency > Use car seats for students below four years of age in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions > Refrain from eating, drinking and using the telephone while students are on the bus > Participate in educating students about traffic safety and how to use the bus, and supervise any entertainment programme on the bus Source: Department of Transport Continue reading
Mexico train derailment kills 6
Mexico train derailment kills 6 (AFP) / 26 August 2013 A cargo train carrying US-bound migrants derailed in a remote and swampy area of south eastern Mexico on Sunday, killing at least six people and injuring several more, officials said. National civil protection coordinator Luis Felipe Puente said on his Twitter account that 18 people were taken to hospitals, including 17 from Honduras and one from Guatemala, all aged 19 to 54. He had said earlier that 22 people were injured. Security and civil protection officials in the municipality of Huimanguillo said 250 to 300 people were aboard the train when it crashed at a site far from any road and only accessible by air or boat. A Tabasco government spokesman told AFP that four of the dead were from Honduras. Tabasco civil protection director Cesar Burelo told Milenio television that the injured were taken to the regional hospital of Las Choapas in the neighbouring state of Veracruz, which is 25 minutes away by boat. The cause of the accident was not yet known, he said, adding that the train was also carrying scrap metal. Mexican media said the train may have been travelling too fast amid heavy rain. Eight of the train’s 12 freight cars overturned at around 3:00 am (0800 GMT), state officials said. Rescuers used hydraulic tools to cut through the metal to find survivors. Burelo said cranes will be needed to lift the wagons, which could lead to discoveries of more fatalities. Local media showed pictures of freight cars lying on their side with the wheels detached from the bottom. The tracks are seen in a wooded area and covered with plants. At least two of the injured were transported lying on the wooden flatbed of a handcar — a small four-wheeled railroad vehicle — according to a picture posted on Twitter by Tabasco civil protection. President Enrique Pena Nieto expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and his foreign ministry said it was providing information to Central American embassies. President Enrique Pena Nieto unveiled a $309 billion plan in July to modernize the country’s infrastructure, including by reviving the nation’s passenger train service. Continue reading
Youth Spot: Breaking down the barriers
Youth Spot: Breaking down the barriers Dhanusha Gokulan / 25 August 2013 For someone who has not been to any country in the Middle East, clichés about the cultural workings of the place may be natural. Dubai, according to a handful of international students, is impressive, overwhelming, full of high-rises, and “slightly opulent”. Student delegates attending the HPAIR Asia Conference at the American University in Dubai.— KT photo by Mukesh Kamal However, three days into the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) being held here, 23-year-old Korean national Soyoung Lee said that the experience of being part of the five-day student-run conference, broke several of those prejudices that were previously formed in her mind. The Korea University student majoring in finance, was on her first visit to the Middle East. “You would assume that people here act differently or are generally biased one way or the other. You read about the political crises, the Arab Spring, and several other problems in the region. But being in Dubai sort of broke several prejudices that I had about the region in general. People here seem so much more casual,” said Lee. Jointly hosted by the American University in Dubai and Harvard University, this is the first time that the HPAIR is being held in the Middle East since its inception in 1992 in Taipei in Taiwan. Students at the American University in Dubai won the bid to host the conference, which opened on Thursday amidst a ceremony with almost 500 schools from 54 countries, last year. Prominent speakers shed light on the question of Asia’s increasing impact on the world. Together, they partake in dialogue bridging global perspectives through plenaries, seminars, and workshops by more than 150 speakers from the Middle East and other parts of the world. One of the biggest student-run conferences in the world, it has been previously hosted in cities such as Singapore, Tokyo, Mumbai, Kuala Lampur, Sydney, Shanghai, Seoul, and Beijing. ‘Not a very challenging environment’ Apart from panel discussions and speaker sessions, a career fair was also hosted for the students on Saturday. Most students Khaleej Times caught up with said the inter-cultural atmosphere made the exchange of dialogue healthily challenging. However, they said they found Dubai overwhelming, slightly opulent, and far too fancy for their standards. Though some of the international delegates were really impressed with the high standards in Dubai, they said that they would not like to kick-start their career here. Lee, and Filipino national and De La Salle University student Meg Lindt Olea, 20, said Dubai did not provide a very challenging platform for their talents. “I might eventually come to Dubai looking for international prospects, but I would not look to start my career here,” said Lee. Hongjun Wang, the chief catalyst at the Singapore-based startup The Art of Taking Personal Responsibility (TAOTPR) and one of the speakers at the conference said: “I think part of my work is relevant to the region.” ‘Cultural Diversity, biggest asset’ Student executive directors of Harvard University and AUD said cultural exchange helped dispel cultural prejudices. “Students nowadays attend conferences all across the world. What the world needs…is a bridge between the East and West,” said AUD student organising committee executive director Krisha Mehta. The third year finance student said: “On a global platform we have a lot of talk about the Middle East going on, especially about the opportunities available and challenges being faced by the people here. There are a wide variety of topics and controversies prominent in the western media that we have tried to highlight here at the conference it self.” Harvard University student organising committee executive director Willy Hoang said involving youth in development dialogue was critical to “inclusive growth and sustainability”. “Me and my team, we felt that it was time that HPAIR itself identify Middle East as part of Asia. By bringing it here, it opened a lot of doors for discussions.” Abdul Basit Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME, the agency of Dubai’s Department of Economic Development mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise sector, was a keynote speaker at the conference. “At Dubai SME we try to ensure youth participation in economic and social development through entrepreneurship promotion. We are particularly delighted to be part of HPAIR 2013 since it is being held in a region where a sizeable youth population is redefining growth strategies.” HPAIR 2013 also includes tours of Dubai, a career fair, university day, gala dinner, international night, and entertainment night. – dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
