Nalgonda: The District Collector P Satyanarayana Reddy on Thursday exhorted the managements of private schools to use school buses which are in good condition, keeping in mind the safety of the students and appoint skilful drivers.

Speaking at a meeting of representatives of Private Schools Managements Associations, the District Collector said that 45 per cent of the students in the district were studying in the private schools, which constituted 30 per cent in the total number of schools in the district.

The managements of private schools should take the help of the police to verify the background of the driver before appointing them, he suggested. He also asked the managements of private schools to use only government prescribed text books in their schools and avoid promoting their in-house books.

The Deputy Commissioner of Transport Chandrasekhar said that all school buses run by private schools, must undergo fitness test by May 15. He also reminded them that the government has banned the usage of the old vehicles, which have completed 15 years. He advised them to engage drivers, who have heavy vehicles driving licence and good driving skills.