By team abhyaspeeth 
Abhyspeeth Education Desk
Mumbai : In a landmark move aimed at bolstering student safety, the Maharashtra government has issued a new Government Resolution that will make GPS tracking and strict background verification mandatory for all school transport vehicles from the upcoming academic year. The decision applies to both government and private schools across the state and covers buses, vans, and even private vehicles used to ferry students.
According to the new policy, all school transport vehicles must be fitted with functional GPS devices that allow real-time tracking of routes and stops. This measure is expected to significantly enhance parental and institutional oversight, especially in cases of delays, route changes, or emergencies. In addition to GPS installation, all drivers, conductors, and attendants associated with school transport will now be required to undergo police background checks, alcohol and drug testing, and child safety training.
The resolution also outlines clear responsibilities for parents who arrange private transport for their children. If a student is commuting through a privately hired driver or shared vehicle, the parents will be required to upload the driver’s credentials and contact details on the school’s official transport database. This ensures that schools are aware of every individual involved in a child’s commute and can intervene if any safety issue arises.
A particularly notable addition to the policy is the introduction of an absence alert system. Schools will now be mandated to immediately inform parents if a student is marked absent and was supposed to travel via school transport that day. The move is aimed at preventing unfortunate incidents arising from unverified absences or communication gaps between schools and parents.
Officials from the education department have stated that this resolution is part of the broader framework to create a safe and child-centric schooling environment in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. They added that detailed operational guidelines and deadlines for compliance will be issued soon to all educational institutions.
For schools, the resolution serves as a wake-up call to revamp their transport systems with modern safety mechanisms. For parents, it’s a reminder that ensuring a child’s safety does not end at the school gate but extends to the very journey that begins at home.
As the state prepares for the reopening of schools in mid-June, this timely policy intervention is expected to bring reassurance to lakhs of parents across Maharashtra and set a new benchmark for school transport safety nationwide.