Within the framework of the Council of Ministers’ decision to launch the school transportation project in partnership with the private sector, issued on 17/3/2026, to be implemented in phases and in a gradual manner, as one of the mechanisms aimed at enhancing students’ access to education, the Centre affirms that this decision constitutes the implementation of its recommendation in its annual report, which called for the provision of a transportation network enabling children to reach their schools free of charge and safely, in accordance with public safety standards.
This recommendation, within the context of joint efforts and meetings held with the Ministry of Education to implement the Centre’s recommendations, was prioritized for implementation in 2026 within the plan submitted by the Ministry. This plan was developed in response to the Prime Minister’s circular issued on 9/10/2025, following the release of the Centre’s annual report, which called on relevant entities to develop plans for implementing the Centre’s recommendations, including a clear timeframe and performance indicators. At the time, the Centre issued a statement emphasizing the importance of this circular in advancing the practical implementation of its recommendations.
The Council of Ministers’ decision to launch the school transportation project represents a significant step toward enhancing children’s access to their right to education, reducing the economic burden on families, and protecting children from road-related risks, including the recent risks posed by the spread of stray dogs, particularly affecting children’s mobility.
This initiative also represents a positive step toward improving students’ attendance, contributing to reducing school dropout rates, and enhancing girls’ education in remote areas in particular, given the challenges identified by the Centre regarding girls’ access to schools in certain regions, and in promoting the principle of equal opportunities among students across the Kingdom.
In this context, the Centre recommends accelerating the expansion of the school transportation project to cover all regions, ensuring the provision of accessible transportation for children with disabilities, equipping buses with appropriate facilities to ensure students’ safety, monitoring compliance with public safety standards, providing qualified and well-trained drivers to ensure children’s safety, and establishing effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms, including channels for receiving and addressing complaints from students and parents regarding transportation services in a prompt and efficient manner.
The Centre also emphasizes the importance of partnership with the private sector in strengthening their social responsibility in the field of human rights, in line with international standards. It further stresses the need to ensure compliance with due diligence standards by the business sector within the human rights framework, and to prioritize service quality and public safety, in order to guarantee the provision of a safe, fair, and sustainable service for all students.
