RIYADH — Tatweer Educational Transportation Services Company (TTC) signed on Monday contracts with a group of contractors, including companies and investors, to implement and operate the school transport services for students in all phases of public school education. This will be for a period of four consecutive years, starting from the new academic year of 1441 Hijri until the academic year of 1444. Twenty-two contracts were signed with eight contractors for the provision of transport services to 1.2 million boy and girl students in all regions of the Kingdom. Under the contracts, the transport companies need to add more than 3,150 new buses to the existing school transport fleet. Dr. Fahad Al-Shaya, CEO of TTC, said that the Ministry of Education pays exceptional attention to the school transport service and is keen to develop and enhance it in the Kingdom. TTC is the executive arm of the Ministry of Education in the field of educational transportation. Al-Shaya said the new contracts will ensure provision of convenient, safe and distinctive services for students during their school trips, especially since the contracts are based on the commitment of contractors to fulfill strict requirements and specifications to strengthen the procedures of security and safety in school transport, both in terms of modern buses or making available training to drivers on safe driving. They also need to ensure provision of equipment and requirements that would contribute to safe and comfortable trips for all students who benefit from the service. TTC recently held a meeting of all companies and investors wishing to enter the competition to provide school transport services for students in all phases of public education in the Kingdom. During the meeting, the participants were briefed on the details of the competition and working mechanism for the implementation and operation of school transport services. According to the terms and conditions for taking part in the competition, the intending investors or contractors will have buses, drivers, technicians, equipment and systems necessary for the implementation of the project in the most efficient manner. The terms and conditions aim to ensure maximum quality, efficiency, security, comfort and safety while providing school transport services. TTC has succeeded in expanding the school transportation service and increasing the number of beneficiaries by 100 percent since its launch in 2012, up to 1.2 million student beneficiaries, who are pursuing studies in 15,000 schools. TTC, a Saudi limited liability company and a subsidiary of Tatweer Education Holding Company (THC), which is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, is operating 25,000 buses and vehicles across the Kingdom.
