DAMMAM – Several parents in the Eastern Province have demanded the Ministry of Education find a quick solution to problems they face when they go to schools to pick up their children who study in elementary and intermediate classes. They say they have to wait under the hot sun along busy roads in the absence of appropriate facilities inside the schools. They underlined the need for making available shaded waiting areas to help avoid traffic jams in front of school gates. Parents also noted that children are vulnerable to dangers when they stream out of school gates to the busy streets looking for their parents. Muhammad Al-Olyani, a citizen, said most of the schools in the province are located along roads and their main gates are opening to busy streets. “The government must compel school authorities to make facilities for parents to drop and pick up children within the school compounds themselves instead of forcing them to wait in the streets," he told Al-Bilad daily. “There should be separate entry and exit gates for these vehicles,” he said. Echoing the same view, Khaled Al-Saihati said most parents are afraid of high risks involved when little children stream out of school gates after the school hours, oblivious to speeding vehicles on the streets. He called for creating speed bumps on all roads near education institutions. On his part, Salah Al-Enezy called for making arrangements to avoid crowding of parents in front of the gates of girls' schools. Saud Al-Khatem, another parent, said building parking areas adjacent to schools would help avoid traffic congestion on many roads. The parents raised their concern about the lack of safety measures in front of schools after two elementary school students were run over by a speeding truck in front of Al-Khandaq elementary school in Saihat recently. Some parents said that they personally drive their children to and from schools to ensure their safety. Parents also said schools should not allow students to freely exit school until their parents or drivers arrive to pick them up. Cooperation is needed between education authorities and the traffic police to implement safety measures inside and outside the schools, they said. Parents also claimed that accidents have a negative psychological effect on students. A citizen said he once noticed a student sitting in front of the school for more than two hours. There were no teachers or a guard present and he wondered what would have happened had that student been involved in an accident. He took the student to his home. Parents also suggested that pedestrian paths be established and traffic signs installed so that children may safely cross streets. Parents also questioned the lack of a traffic police presence in front of large schools. Their presence will ensure that drivers do not speed when driving around schools Maj. Gen. Abdulrahman Al-Moqbil, director general of traffic police in the Eastern Province, underlined the need for monitoring traffic flow in front of schools. “During our previous meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Education, we suggested that schools would be obliged to introduce all safety measures," he said, adding that permits should not be given to build schools close to busy streets. "Traffic policemen should be assigned to monitor flow of vehicles along streets close to schools,” he said.
