In a statement made by the CVLB or the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board, that there is no one with a criminal record amongst its 14,757 school bus drivers in the entire of Peninsular Malaysia, is indeed rather enlightening news. Many parents, I am certain, would feel as if a heavy burden has been lifted from their shoulders.

This comes in the wake of incident involving an illegal school bus driver. On the 26th July, 2010, the van driver parked his vehicle along Jalan Othman, and forced himself on his 10 year old passenger.

The public outcry which followed, has led to some quarters suggesting, amongst other things, that school buses, have a 2nd driver or a woman conductor to ensure the safety of our young school children who travel to school using school buses everyday.

Regarding the matter, the CVLB board chairman, Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sidigue, told a press conference held at Putrajaya recently, to the CVLB, it is a standard operating procedure for it to censure the background of potential applicants applying for any licenses which are issued by the CVLB. Those found with criminal records and blacklisted by the Police Authorities, will be rejected.

For readers’ information, it is my opinion, that those aspiring to become “instructors” of driving schools and institutes, also face stringent screenings by the J.P.J authorities, prior to their being selected.

For parents to know that their siblings’ school bus operators and drivers are legally approved by the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board or CVLB is not by itself sufficient. Infact, parent’s responsibilities to their children in the selection of a school bus, goes much further than that.

This article will therefore emphasize on a few important factors which have to be taken into consideration. Amongst other things to be considered must surely be:-

1. Know the driver or operators of the school bus entity.

Ensure that as a parent, that you know, the school bus driver personally. As a parent, I’m sure you’ll feel more confident entrusting the responsibility of sending your children day in and out to school. Amongst other things, know:
a. where the driver stays

b. his background and his character as a person

c. his contact numbers, his house phone and handphone numbers

d. where he stays

e. is he a person that can be trusted?

Calculating a good and close relationship with your school bus driver is never a loss. Infact, it is a gain, always.

2. Ensure that the school bus used to ferry your children is in good order.

As a parent, make sure that the vehicle used to ferry your child or children is in good condition. The air conditioning system is of utmost importance. Poor air conditioning system of the bus plays an important aspect in your children’s comfort. Monitor this important item carefully for your children’s welfare.

3. Basic amenities such as fire extinguishers, emergency cones and medical kits.

Fire extinguishers, emergency triangles or cones and medical kits are important items a school bus should have. As a parent, you should be aware if such amenities are available in your child’s school bus. Gently advise school bus drivers regarding the importance of these important items.

4. Calculate a good rapport with your child’s bus driver.

Nothing infact beats a good rapport between you as a parent and the bus driver than anything else. Such a close rapport, ensures that the service provided to you to your family becomes “personal”. If such a rapport exists between you and your child’s bus driver, rested assured you will be accorded the best attention you wish to expect for your child or children for that matter.

The service of a school bus is extremely important. As parents most of us are working. As for the wives, most are busy housewives, unable to tend to the needs of sending their kids to school. As such, the services of a good and responsible school bus driver become an extremely important factor in our lives.

Inspite of what parents do, or how much care and concern we put into our children’s school bus operations, there will always be some errant, blacksheep, illegal school bus operators around. This is something we will be unable to prevent happening.

However, we as parents, we can contribute to ensuring that most, if not all, school bus entities, can be run professionally and to our satisfaction.

When we think of it seriously, school bus drivers do contribute a yeoman’s service to the society as a whole. Hurrah to school bus operators through out the entire nation. We sincerely appreciate your service to our children. We salute you!

Ada segelintir ibu-bapa menghantar anak-anak mereka ke sekolah. Ada kanak-kanak yang berjalan kaki ke sekolah. Ada pula murid-murid yang ke sekolah dengan menaiki bas.

Barangkali anda adalah seseorang yang berhajat menjadi seorang pemandu bas sekolah.

Sepertimana kerjaya-kerjaya lain, hendaklah menjadi seorang pemandu bas sekolah itu terlebih dulu anda haruslah mempunyai kelayakan-kelayakan yang tertentu.

Nombor satu atau yang pertama sekali, anda ini gemarkah bangun awal-awal pagai tak?

Sepertimana anda faham, sekolah itu bermula pagi-pagi suntuk lagi. Apa tak lagi dengan kesesakan yang bermula tiap pagi, mahu tak mahu anda terpaksalah bangun pagi-pagi kiranya awak berhasrat menjadi pemandu bas sekolah.

Faktor kedua ialah anda hendaklah menggemari kanak-kanak. Sekiranya perhubungan anda dengan mereka tidak beberapa mesra ataupun “rapport” anda kurang baik, bagaimana hendak menggawal pelajar-pelajar pula?

Tambahanpula, anda juga hendaklah bermesra baik dengan si ibu-ibu bapa juga.

Sekiranya anda beridam hendak memiliki sebuah katakanlah bas sekolah bersaiz serdahana, sudah tentu kenderaan jenis van Toyota atau Datsun memang sesuai.

Kenderaan di atas dapat mengangkut atau membawa sekurang-kurangnya 25 orang penuntut. Pihak yang mengeluarkan permit untuk menggendalikan bas sekolah adalah di tangan L.P.K.P. atau Lembaga Perlesenan Kenderaan Perdagangan.

Demi untuk menguruskan sesebuah bas sekolah, terlebih dulu anda perlulah sebuah bas kecil. Kemudian, anda perlu mempunyai jenis lesen “D” (kereta) juga.

Anda juga mengambil lesen “P.S.V.” atau “Public Service Vehicle”. Anda perlukan lencana untuk tugas ini.

Kenderaan yang anda memiliki itu sudah tentu hendaklah dalam keadaan memuaskan sentiasa. Ianya harusnya di hantar untuk di periksa sekurang-kurangnya 6 bulan sekali oleh pihak Puspakom.

Sudah tentu kenderaan anda itu juga hendaklah mempunyai “air-con”. Di zaman sekarang, pelajar-pelajar hari ini memilih sangat.

Demikian pula ibu-ibu bapa mereka. Mereka meminta segala yang terbaik untuk anak mereka. Bayaran tidak menjadi masalah!

Sepertimana di terangkan lebih awal lagi, bas sekolah yang bertujuan memberi servis kepada rakyat utamanya, hendaklah mempunyai kemudahan-kemudahan asas seperti kotak kecemasan dan item-item keselamatan umpamanya pemadam api.

Suatu lagi barangan yang biasa kurang di hiraukan orang adalah “tanda amaran segi tiga” atau kon. Pastikan bahawa kedua-dua barangan tersebut ada dalam kenderaan anda itu.

Sebelum di lupakan, ada suatu barangan yang perlu di sebutkan. Perkara itu sudah tentu soal “insurans”.

Insuran perlu ada bagi melindungi kanak-kanak yang akan di bawa ke sana ke mari. Sebagai seorang pengusaha, sudah tentu anda faham maksud istillah ini. Saya yakin tiada apa masalah berhubung dengan soal tersebut.

Andainya anda mempunyai apa-apa masalah berhubung dengan perkara ini, jangan merasa rayu-rayu berhubang dengan saya. Saya tentu akan memberi sebarang pertolongan di mana yang perlu.

Selamat berbas sekolah!