Jeddah, Sep 21(Arab News): The Cabinet decision to double the number of beneficiaries of the school transport system will create jobs for 48,500 Saudis and promote a culture of using public transport among students, said Education Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah on Tuesday.

He said the Cabinet decision would increase the number of students who benefit from the system from 600,000 to 1.2 million, including a 25 percent allocation for girls in public schools.

“The new transport system will reduce the dropout of students and enhance efficiency,” he pointed out.

Speaking about other benefits, the minister said the system would reduce traffic congestion and petrol use. “It will help save SR2.2 billion annually through reduced fuel consumption,” he pointed out.

The Cabinet agreed to double the number of girl students to benefit from the school transport system beginning the new academic year (2011-2012), especially in regions where the system has been found successful. It will be expanded to other regions considering their technical preparedness.

The Cabinet also instructed that the system be applied to boy students from this academic year gradually, introducing it in selected regions. It will be implemented throughout the Kingdom once found successful.

Sami Al-Dobaikhi, supervisor of the transport system at the Education Ministry, said the ministry would award new contracts to provide the service to more students. “By the next academic year we’ll be able reach the target set by the Cabinet,” he said.

“We introduced the system three years ago with 600,000 students,” he said. The system has taken into consideration the growth of population and the age groups of students. All firms working under the system are Saudi, he added.

“Some people blame the system for all the negative aspects but actually the problems are created by the haphazard local transport system. Our system is very strict. We have instructed drivers to follow the regulations. All our drivers are Saudis aged above 30. We will not appoint anybody who has a criminal record. Those who make mistakes will be punished.”

He said overcrowding on some buses was because of pupils who use the service without registering. “This happens because of the negligence of schools and drivers,” he said. “It also shows that many students still want the service.”

Al-Dobaikhi said the gradual improvement of the service helped in reducing the time students take to reach schools to 45 minutes.

At present the system employs 14,000 drivers and this number is expected to reach more than 48,000 including drivers and administrators, he added.

“This system has a lot of benefits. It will reduce overcrowding of vehicles on the Kingdom’s streets and work absences. According to one study, about a third of government employees leave their offices early to pick their children up from schools,” he pointed out.