RTA to upgrade performance of model driving institutes and services rendered to trainees

The CEO of Licensing Agency said that RTA, represented by Licensing Agency, is always keen to upgrade the performance and services of these driving institutes and services. He highlighted the vital role played by these institutes; which are viewed as strategic partners of the RTA.

"These model institutes have to work on polishing the skills of trainees through exposing them to intensive training courses and urge them to adopt the best practices to match with the rapid growth and unprecedented urban expansion witnessed by Dubai in all fields. This requires rising up to the challenges ahead and sorting out effective solutions to uproot all problems and bottlenecks encountered in the course of daily business of driving institutes,"

said Bahrouzian.

Commenting on matters discussed in the meeting, Bahrouzian said: "We have screened a number of issues that include the shortage of inspectors, success rates of driving applicants, performance indicators, electronic systems, customer service, selection panel, periodical meetings, strategic plan of Licensing Agency, training timings, training locations, qualifying instructors, fees & revenues, and electronic link."

The meeting concluded to a number of decisions and recommendations such as increasing the number of test appointments, scheduling these appointments after the official working hours, and conducting tests on Saturdays. There will be coordination with the RTA Human Resources & Development Dep't (HR&D) to employ more inspectors, and that HR&D to approach Ruler's Court to reassess the job of inspectors with a view to upgrade it. Recommendations call for upgrading the level of training and ensuring readiness of the trainee for testing following a provisional assessment, provided that the a proper atmosphere is provided to the trainee to have him or her psychologically prepared. Licensing Agency will prepare an evaluation program for model institutes covering matters related to premises, services provided, quality of training modules & training vehicles, tests, success rates and other points involved in assessment. A further meeting will be held with institutes later on to conduct further discussions on these matters and come up with agreed solutions.

Referring to other decisions and recommendations concluded in the meeting, Ali Mohammed Al-Jassim, said:

"Drivers Licensing Department will study the standards and technical aspects of developing an electronic system whereby the trainee can book a test date online such that the test date will not exceed two weeks from the date of completing training sessions prescribed for the trainee, and the trainee clears supervisor assessment. The new system will assign due attention to the size, intake, training session, starting date, training schedules and other technical matters in various institutes so as to ensure suitable appointments and highest degree of transparency between institutes and their trainees."

"The meeting focused on a number of decisions and findings including rendering best services to customers, and referring the trainee who takes five tests to a testing panel to conduct an assessment test. This will be carried out automatically without submitting a grievance or complaint by the trainee about the testing process," said Al-Jasim.

The meeting also decided on a number of issues including holding monthly meetings with the Director of Driver Licensing Dep't to discuss operational and development matters, as well as problems & bottlenecks and figuring out proper solutions. Quarter meetings will be held with the CEO of Licensing Agency to discuss strategic and development issues and a further meeting to be held with the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA to review the current developments and concepts contributed by model institutes.

The CEO of Licensing Agency further added that Licensing Agency will prepare its strategic & operational plan in the first quarter of 2009. The Plan will examine a host of issues such as training hours and the possibility of increasing them in a way compatible with the working hours during winter and summer. It also involves studying permitting training on holidays and weekends, and considering modifying training locations & routes to match with the locations of model institutes as well as developments on roads. It also includes redefining permissible training locations, simplifying qualifying of instructors, accelerating procedures of provisional agreement, reviewing the status of daily expenses recovered from model institutes by Finance Dep't, considering issuing official cheques for this purpose, and completing direct electronic link up of all stakeholders with RTA network.

The meeting was attended by representatives of model driving institutes; namely Messrs Saif Balhassa & Hani Kamil from Balhassa Institute, Omar Ibrahim from Galadari Center, Amer Balhassa from Emirates Institute, Mohammed Abdul Rahman & Al-Fatih Abdul Baqi from Dubai Center, and Yousuf Juma & Adel Nori from Al-Ahli Center.

The representatives of the said institutes expressed deep thanks and appreciation of the increasing attention shown by the RTA towards their institutes, and hailed the efforts of the RTA & affiliated agencies to expand, develop and integrate public transport sector to lure various public segments to use it.