Teachers told to focus on student safety too

Even as the Transport Department checked over 1,100 vehicles for physical fitness on Saturday, education authorities asked school managements to focus on student safety.

Speaking at a meeting of teachers at Madras Christian College School, Siva Tamilmani, Chief Educational Officer, Chennai, said teachers should talk to students about safety measures they can follow in school and even outside. These steps come in the wake of the death of a six-year-old girl who slipped from a hole in a school bus on Wednesday.

Over 600 people, including principals and headmasters from various State Board schools in the city, attended the event. Various issues faced by students and the need for counselling by teachers, were also discussed

Meanwhile, officials and inspectors of the 15 Regional Transport Commissioner offices in the city checked a total of 1,100 school and college buses for road-worthiness. All aspects of the vehicles including the condition of brakes, lights, the vehicle’s body and seats were checked, along with the validity of the documents.

The checks will continue through Sunday and Monday. The city has a total of 3,990 vehicles in educational institutions. “If the vehicles are not in condition, we will cancel the fitness certificate and impound them,” said a source in the Transport Department.

Responding to the complaints regarding the issue of free bus passes for all school students, Mr. Tamilmani said the matter has been taken up with the Metropolitian Transport Corporation authorities and the passes will be issued soon.

Representatives from schools also submitted the number of free passes they required, to the Education Department authorities.