School Education department warns private schools over bus safety

Ahead of the new academic year beginning June 12, the Telangana School Education department warned private schools against operating unfit buses, overloading students and employing unlicensed drivers. Schools were directed to follow all transport safety norms and obtain necessary permissions

Hyderabad: Ahead of the commencement of the academic year 2026-27 on June 12, the School Education department on Friday warned private schools of stringent action if they are found operating unfit school buses, overloading students or engaging incompetent or unlicensed drivers.

In a statement, School Education director Dr E Naveen Nicolas said all private school buses must possess valid permits and fitness certificates issued by the competent authority. He made it clear to schools that students should not be transported beyond the approved seating capacity under any circumstances.

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Asking schools to engage qualified and licensed drivers for operating school buses, he said all prescribed safety measures and statutory requirements relating to transportation must be complied with. He instructed schools to obtain necessary permissions from the Transport department before operating school buses.

The department directed its regional joint directors of school education, district educational officers and mandal educational officers to ensure that private schools adhere to these provisions.