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The Ministry of Education issued clarifications on school transportation conduct as it began accepting applications from students across all levels for the upcoming academic year. According to the ministry, breaches of established rules may lead to temporary suspension from the service or denial for a full year without any reimbursement of registration costs. The warnings were released just days before the new term commences on Sunday, underscoring the priority placed on safety as families register through the Noor electronic platform.
Specific behavioral expectations form the core of the ministry’s guidelines for riders. Students must wait in assigned areas, board and exit in an orderly sequence, remain in their designated seats with seatbelts secured, and comply fully with driver directions at all times. The education ministry further prohibits any extension of heads, hands or objects from windows and doors while banning dangerous items from being brought aboard the vehicles.
Maintaining cleanliness ranks among the key requirements detailed in the ministry announcement. Riders are expected to treat the bus, its equipment and others’ property with care, promptly alert the driver to any misuse or missed stops, and only disembark once the vehicle has fully halted. The ministry instructed students to avoid crossing roads directly in front of the bus, instead waiting for it to depart and confirming the path is clear before proceeding.
Emergency procedures received particular attention in the ministry’s guidance to ensure calm and safe responses. Students must adhere strictly to driver commands during incidents, utilize designated emergency exits when directed, and evacuate without panic or disorder. These protocols align with the ministry’s broader emphasis on organized conduct that protects all passengers throughout the journey.
Parental responsibilities were also outlined by the Ministry of Education to prevent interference with operations. Guardians should refrain from boarding buses under any circumstances and instead channel complaints to the school’s transport supervisor or the Educational Transportation Development Company’s toll-free line. The ministry additionally directed parents not to alter or dispute the official routes established by the operating company.
The clarifications coincide with the ministry’s exemption of children from social security beneficiary families and students with disabilities from the standard annual transportation fee of SR200. Registration for the service, which supports safe travel to and from schools, continues through the Noor system for male and female pupils at primary, intermediate and secondary levels. A June 2026 analysis by transport platform Swvl of Transport General Authority regulations noted that operator compliance with driver qualifications, vehicle standards and safety protocols carries parallel enforcement measures including potential license suspension, reinforcing the coordinated push for secure educational transport across the kingdom.
