Mowasalat (Karwa) has stepped up measures to enhance school bus safety, with its fleet equipped with multiple cameras, safety alert systems and live monitoring from a central control unit as students prepare to return to classrooms.
Mohammed Abukhadija, executive director of Commercial Affairs at Mowasalat (Karwa), said the company has long relied on advanced technologies to enhance the safety of children travelling on its school buses.
Speaking on the sidelines of the annual “Back-To-School” event at Place Vendome, organised in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), Abukhadija said the buses are equipped with multiple cameras to provide greater visibility while on the road.
The buses also feature safety alert systems for drivers, including alerts that notify them when students fail to fasten their seat belts.
“All the buses are being monitored live from our BOC, the control unit in one of our depots,” Abukhadija said, referring to the company’s operations control centre.
He said the system allows Karwa to monitor the status and condition of buses, ensuring they are properly maintained, ready for operation, and in suitable condition before deployment.
In addition to transport safety, Karwa is working with MoEHE to make the transition back to school more engaging for children through the annual Back-To-School event, which has been held in partnership with the ministry since 2021.
This year’s event is being held at Place Vendome and features a range of educational and entertainment activities designed to ease children’s return to school.
Activities include puzzles, face painting, virtual reality experiences and a photo booth, along with contests and giveaways for children running through next Thursday.
Abukhadija said the event provides an opportunity to support students and families ahead of the new academic year through activities that combine education and entertainment.
Maryam Abdullah al-Mohannadi, director of the Public Relations and Communication Department at MoEHE, said the interactive wing was established in co-operation with Karwa, a strategic partner in the ministry’s return-to-school campaign.
She said the initiative allows the ministry to meet families and children ahead of the start of the school year and prepare them through entertainment and awareness activities.
According to al-Mohannadi, the wider “Back to School 2026-2027” campaign aims to prepare students psychologically and mentally for the new academic year, particularly younger children who may experience fear or anxiety when starting school.
Al-Mohannadi said the campaign seeks to provide children with support, care and encouragement while reassuring parents and educators about the transition.
The interactive activities, she pointed out, are therefore intended not only to entertain children but also to create a positive and engaging atmosphere before they return to classrooms.