An Abu Dhabi private school has been fined Dh100,000 for not installing CCTV cameras in a bus that transport pupils to and from school.

The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance handed down the sentence to the private school after it was found guilty of negligence and failure to comply with safety and security regulations on transportation of school children.

Official court details showed that police received a complaint from parents whose son was assaulted by his classmate after they had a quarrel on a school bus.

The police investigated the matter including questioning the bus attendant and school representative from the school. When the cops ordered to retrieve CCTV camera footage from the school bus, they found that it had no surveillance cameras. 

Prosecutors charged the school with negligence and failure to comply with safety and security rules for the transportation of school children. The school bus attendant was also charged with negligence. 

The court found the school guilty; the school bus attendant was cleared of the charge.

The judge also advised the parents of the child to file a civil lawsuit against the private school for damages.

In an effort to control pupils' behaviour such as bullying and promote their safety and security, education and transport authorities in Abu Dhabi had introduced rules requiring all schools to fit CCTV cameras in school buses from 2011.

About three cameras are installed on each bus depending on the number seats in the bus. The footage from CCTV cameras should be monitored by the school authorities.

The authorities said bus drivers and attendant/supervisors can easily monitor the children's behaviour through the cameras.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com