Muscat – Mwasalat Training Institute has launched the sultanate’s first professional licensing programme for school bus drivers, marking a major step towards standardising and upgrading school transport services nationwide.

The landmark initiative, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, along with Oman Logistics Association, offers the first professional licences for school bus drivers in the sultanate.

Designed to enhance safety, efficiency and service quality, the programme converts Mwasalat’s operational expertise into structured, accredited training aligned with international best practices and national regulatory requirements. It is focused on preventive driving, student safety, professional compliance and strengthening the competencies of drivers and supervisors.

In its initial phase, the programme trained 100 school bus drivers and five supervisors through an intensive mix of theoretical instruction and practical, on-road assessment aimed at addressing real operational challenges.

Upon successful completion, participants were awarded training certificates issued by the Ministry of Labour, in addition to professional licences granted by the Oman Logistics Association – establishing, for the first time, a formal licensing framework for school bus drivers in the sultanate.

Officials said the initiative reflects national efforts to strengthen governance and accountability in school transport services while ensuring a safer daily commute for students across Oman.

‘The competence of the bus driver is central to student safety,’ Mwasalat stated, adding that the programme is part of its broader commitment to institutional excellence and continuous workforce development.

The initiative also supports Oman’s wider transport and logistics strategy by standardising professional qualifications and embedding a culture of safety, responsibility and operational discipline.

Mwasalat confirmed that further phases of the programme are planned, with an expanded intake of drivers and supervisory staff in the coming period, reinforcing its role as a key enabler of safe and reliable public transport services nationwide.