School warns parents after girl student harassed

Students, who don’t use school buses, are being educated about the need to be extra cautious while hailing a cab home, after stray incidents of harassment were reported in the city last week.

Schools have started circulating e-mails to parents, informing them about the importance of creating awareness among their children on the dangers of taking a cab.

The principal of Jumeriah College issued an e-mail highlighting a shocking incident when a Key Stage 3 student was harassed by a cabbie in broad daylight. “The student took a taxi home after an after-school activity at 4.40pm,” the e-mail read.

It was reported that the taxi driver indecently exposed himself in front of the girl, and hovered around the area after dropping her off, in an attempt to find out if she was alone at home, but left a while later. 

Although the girl was not physically harmed, she was shocked and distressed by the incident, but had the presence of mind to take down the number of the cab. 

“Please be advised once again on matters relating to safety, asking your child to make a call to you or indeed a dummy phone call when in a taxi and saying the taxi number out loud,” read the e-mail. 

Soon after this case was highlighted many schools forwarded this e-mail altering other parents of this danger.

“It’s extremely distressing for any parent to learn that their child has gone through such a traumatic experience. Steps must be taken to ensure their safety while in the cab,” asserted a parent, adding, “The RTA must do something to discipline their cabbies and punish those who indulge in such behaviour.”

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