SHENZHEN education and traffic police authorities launched a joint inspection of school buses yesterday (Mar 1), the first school day as nearly 800,000 students returned after the holiday.

Ensuring campus security and a fair tuition fee are two priorities at the beginning of the new school year, according to the education bureau.

Early yesterday morning, education leaders at municipal and district levels were sent to check schools'preparations for the new school year, concentrating on bus safety, food safety and collection of tuition fees.

An inspection team headed by Tang Haihai, deputy chief of the Shenzhen Municipal Education Bureau, went to inspect school buses at six checkpoints in Longgang District.

A total of 36 checkpoints have been established across the city for the three-day campaign.

Tang said the move was to ensure all buses for the city's kindergartens, primary and middle schools are in good condition. Failing buses will be removed and school heads will be held accountable for any violation of safety rules.

In Shenzhen, some small private schools based outside the special economic zone rent buses from individuals or bus companies to carry students during and after school hours.

The bureau launched a monthlong check last year and found some schools had used buses which had not been examined during the period required by law. Some even carried students with expired certificates while some were overloaded or otherwise operated illegally.

In 2005, a kindergarten school bus in Longhua, Bao'an District ran onto a pavement, killing 19 and injuring 19 in the worst traffic accident in Shenzhen's history. An investigation showed the driver, surnamed Li, had been wearing slippers. The bus'brakes and tires were not up to standard and he lost control of the vehicle trying to avoid a cyclist.

SHENZHEN education and traffic police authorities launched a joint inspection of school buses yesterday, the first school day as nearly 800,000 students returned after the holiday.

Ensuring campus security and a fair tuition fee are two priorities at the beginning of the new school year, according to the education bureau.

Early yesterday morning, education leaders at municipal and district levels were sent to check schools'preparations for the new school year, concentrating on bus safety, food safety and collection of tuition fees.

An inspection team headed by Tang Haihai, deputy chief of the Shenzhen Municipal Education Bureau, went to inspect school buses at six checkpoints in Longgang District.

A total of 36 checkpoints have been established across the city for the three-day campaign.

Tang said the move was to ensure all buses for the city's kindergartens, primary and middle schools are in good condition. Failing buses will be removed and school heads will be held accountable for any violation of safety rules.

In Shenzhen, some small private schools based outside the special economic zone rent buses from individuals or bus companies to carry students during and after school hours.

The bureau launched a monthlong check last year and found some schools had used buses which had not been examined during the period required by law. Some even carried students with expired certificates while some were overloaded or otherwise operated illegally.

In 2005, a kindergarten school bus in Longhua, Bao'an District ran onto a pavement, killing 19 and injuring 19 in the worst traffic accident in Shenzhen's history. An investigation showed the driver, surnamed Li, had been wearing slippers. The bus'brakes and tires were not up to standard and he lost control of the vehicle trying to avoid a cyclist.

Editor: Wing