Soft targets: School vans, buses remain vulnerable to terror attacks

Most institutes cannot afford security guards as prescribed by the K-P government.

PESHAWAR:

Security may be heightened at campuses in the city after the Army Public School massacre, but one of the reactionary measures ordered is still a matter of contention—security guards on school transportation.

Outside one of the bigger schools on Warsak Road, the sound of the bell is followed by the rush of students who had been restlessly waiting for ‘home-time’. Although it is not practical to secure every nook and corner using manpower, the congregation of students outside can prove to be another soft target as can the vehicles transporting them.

On January 8, the provincial government issued security guidelines to protect educational institutions, including the hiring of guards for vans and buses by school administrations. However, the guideline is yet to be implemented as majority of the institutes are unable to hire security guards.

According to the rules, it is mandatory for schools to deploy two security guards on each bus and at least one in each contracted Suzuki van. Van drivers and owners say they cannot afford to hire a security guard for themselves.

“We have no contracts with the schools,” claims Gul Khan, a school van owner. “We are directly responsible to the parents who pay us.” He drops children to Tehkal Payan from a school on Warsak Road. Khan laughed at the thought of hiring a security guard for his Suzuki van which carries 33 children to their schools and homes in two shifts.

“The bus owners can afford security guards and should have them. Our monthly income is less than a security guard’s salary,” he added.

“Why would I drive a school van if I have to pay the guard from my own pocket,” asked Mohammad Aslam, another van driver. The school owners say it is impossible to guard all the vehicles transporting students due to financial constraints.

“Each security guard will cost Rs15,000 a month and a school with 15 buses will have to hire 30 of them which amounts to Rs450,000,” says Private Educational Institution Management Association (PEIMA) President Yawar Naseer. “Either the parents have to pay the cost or the security suggestion has to be reconsidered.” Naseer adds the Peshawar chairman of the Board of Secondary Education has been asked to take up the subject with the provincial government.

Nearly all private schools charge less than Rs2,000 as monthly fee from each student and it is impossible for them to meet such a requirement. “We are ready to arm our school bus conductors with a pistol, but not a larger firearm as the conductor will be forced to either take care of the weapon or the children. The same applies to vans.”

According to Naseer, PEIMA represents around 7,000 private schools in 22 districts of the province and all of them are following the security measures prescribed by the government.

When contacted, Home and Tribal Affairs department Special Secretary Siraj Khan refused to comment on the matter, saying the DC and his teams visit schools to inspect security measures. However, he did say school vans were relatively soft targets compared to the schools themselves.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2015.