Relying on drivers to drop off children at schools has become part of daily life for many families, and it may seem like a practical solution given how busy parents are with work and daily commitments. But when this reliance shifts from being a form of assistance to a permanent substitute for the presence of the father and mother, the issue warrants our attention.
Choosing who drives your child to school requires careful screening, ongoing supervision, and confirmation that the person is qualified to handle a range of situations involving children. Trust alone is not enough.
Trust in a driver, regardless of how strong it may be, is not sufficient on its own. Caring for children requires an understanding of their needs and the ability to respond appropriately to different circumstances. A lack of family supervision may expose a child to risks that could otherwise have been avoided.
This is why the “drive your Kids to School” campaign is so important—its message goes beyond its literal meaning. The goal is not merely to take children to school, nor is it intended to be a seasonal campaign tied to the start of the school year; rather, it is a message that deserves to become an enduring family tradition.
The daily trip from home to school may take only a few minutes, but it represents a daily opportunity for dialogue, guidance, emotional support, and fostering a sense of security. These moments may seem fleeting, yet they leave a psychological, educational, and social impact on the child, and give the father or mother an opportunity to learn what is going on in the child’s life, what is on their mind, and what they might not say at another time.
It goes beyond simply providing for children’s material needs; it extends to caring for them, monitoring their progress, guiding them, and being actively present throughout the various stages of their development.
Conversely, employers and various institutions are partners in building a more cohesive society; the more a workplace adopts policies that take family responsibilities into account and grant parents reasonable flexibility to fulfill their roles, the more positively this reflects on the family and society—and indeed on the employee themselves in terms of productivity and job stability.
The issue here is not merely a failure to fulfill a family or parental duty; rather, in some cases, it may amount to a violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the child by law, which those responsible for his or her care are obligated to safeguard and protect.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the State of Qatar is a party, has established a set of fundamental principles, foremost among which is that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in all matters concerning the child. It also affirms the primary responsibility of parents for the upbringing and development of the child, and that the child’s best interests shall be their primary concern.
At the national level, the Qatari Family Law defines custody as the care, upbringing, guidance, and protection of the child in a manner that serves the child’s best interests, thereby underscoring the priority the legislature has accorded to the care and protection of children.
The Role of Employers and Institutions
At the same time, workplaces and various institutions are partners in building a more cohesive society. The more workplaces adopt policies that take family responsibilities into account and provide fathers and mothers with reasonable opportunities to fulfill their parental roles, the more positively this will be reflected in the family and society as a whole.
It can also benefit employees themselves by contributing to greater productivity and professional stability.
When Does Legal Responsibility Arise?
The law, of course, does not specify the number of hours a father or mother must spend with their child, nor does it criminalize the mere act of hiring a driver or a housekeeper to help care for or transport the child.
However, there is another legal line that must not be crossed: putting the child in danger. Article 269 of the Penal Code, enacted by Law No. 11 of 2004, stipulates that anyone who endangers a person under the age of sixteen shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, a fine not exceeding ten thousand riyals, or both.
The penalty is increased to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years and a fine not exceeding fifteen thousand riyals, or either of these two penalties, if the offense is committed by a person entrusted with the child’s custody or care.
Herein lies an important principle that must not be lost amid the debate: relying on others is not a crime in and of itself, but it does not transfer parental responsibility to the driver or the maid, nor does it exempt parents from their duty to protect, supervise, and care for the child.
If relying on others leads to a lack of supervision or negligence, thereby exposing the child to danger, then we are no longer dealing merely with an educational or social debate, but with a situation that may entail legal liability.
This is the difference between having someone help you care for your child and having your child’s care left entirely to that person without your supervision.
The Limits of the Law
However, the law has its limits; Legislation can establish rights and duties and impose penalties when cases of neglect or endangerment of a child arise, but it cannot foster dialogue within the family, nor can it compensate a child for the absence of their parents’ emotional presence, nor can it enforce those human moments that form the basis of the relationship between parents and children.
Therefore, the “Take Your Kids to School” campaign calls not merely for a change in how children get to school, but for the restoration of a family’s presence in a child’s life. Responsibility may begin on the way to school, but it does not end at the school gates.
