Bus drivers say they will follow the SOP and sanitise their buses thoroughly daily.
ALMOST all school bus drivers in Penang are fully vaccinated and eager to hit the road when school reopens next month.Penang School Bus Association chairman Ang Beng Peong, 67, said more than 90% of their members, totalling 200, had been fully vaccinated.
“We are ready to transport students when school reopens next month.
“We will adhere strictly to the standard operating procedure to ensure the safety of all students.
“We will also sanitise our buses thoroughly daily,” he said in an interview.
Schools in states under phases two and three of the National Recovery Plan are set to reopen in stages from Oct 3, beginning with exam-year students in Forms Five and Six.
Ang said some school bus drivers had changed jobs as their income was badly affected.
“Some drivers, especially those who are older, decided to call it a day.
“About 20% of our drivers have taken up new jobs such as food delivery riders or factory bus drivers,” he said.
Even as schools reopen, Ang said the situation would be different from before the lockdown as some parents might prefer to send their children to school themselves.
“Some parents told us they had lost their jobs and asked us to reduce the monthly fee.
“We will make adjustments on a case-by-case basis.
“The fee is usually around RM100 a month but it depends on the distance,” he added.
Another bus operator Lim Boon Kooi, 63, said all his drivers would be fully vaccinated in time for the reopening of school.
“We are only allowed to utilise half of the usual capacity, which means we have to deploy more vehicles.
“I also have to provide students with hand sanitiser before they enter our buses and face masks for my drivers.
“All these cost money,” he said.
Despite the increase in expenses, Lim said the monthly school bus charges would remain the same.
He has about 50 drivers operating a fleet of around 80 school buses and vans.
