Every school day, long before the first bell rings, there’s someone making sure our students get to school safely, coordinating routes, guiding drivers and attendants, and keeping parents in the loop. We’re shining a light on Mary Grace Basa, School Bus Supervisor and Transport Coordinator at NAS Dubai, one of the unsung heroes who helps make every journey to and from school a safe and happy one.
1. ABOUT YOU
Q1: Where are you from?
Answer: I’m from Manila, Philippines.
Q2: How long have you worked at NAS Dubai?
Answer: I’ve worked at NAS Dubai for six years.
Q3: Tell us about yourself.
Answer: I’m a mum of seven children! Yes, seven children!
Five of my children currently live in the Philippines, as it’s simply not affordable for me to have all seven here with me. I have two children here in Dubai, my son and my daughter. They range in age from 3 to 19, so life at home is always busy!
I kept trying for boys, and after all that effort, I finally got my girl in the end! She was definitely worth the wait.
2. LIFE ON THE SCHOOL BUS
Q1: What does your role involve?
Answer: My role is all about communication, coordination and, most importantly, keeping our students safe. I’m based at the school and work closely with parents, bus drivers and staff every day. I coordinate the routes, manage the team and make sure everyone is connected and knows exactly what is happening.
It can be a stressful job because we are responsible for the safety of our students, and their parents trust us with what matters most to them, their children. That’s a responsibility we take very seriously.
But the best part of my job is seeing the children arrive at school in the morning. When I see their happy faces and those big smiles, I know we’ve done our job properly. That feeling makes all the stress worthwhile!
Q2: What is the most challenging part of your job?
Answer: Without a doubt, making sure every child gets to and from school safely is the most challenging part of my job. We are trusted with children as young as three years old, so there is absolutely no room for mistakes.
Every morning starts early, and some children are picked up as early as 6:30am! Our bus routes are planned according to the geographical location of the children’s homes rather than their ages, so we have to carefully coordinate everything to make sure the journeys run smoothly.
I also manage the bus attendants, most of whom are Filipinas, and we work very closely as a team. We usually call parents five to ten minutes before the bus arrives, so they know when to bring their children out.
The challenging part is not just managing the buses and routes — it’s knowing that every parent is trusting us with their child. That responsibility is something I never take lightly.
Q3: What is it like dealing with the kids on the bus?
Answer: Honestly, it’s one of the nicest parts of my job! The buses can definitely be lively in the morning, but I really enjoy getting to know the children. We have a seating plan organised by age and gender, which helps keep everyone comfortable and the journey running smoothly.
After spending so much time with them, I know all the children by name and by face, and they know me too! I love seeing their personalities, hearing their stories and watching them grow throughout the school year.
Of course, there are always a few noisy moments and the occasional bit of mischief — they are children, after all — but that’s part of what makes the job so enjoyable. There’s never a boring bus ride!
3. LIFE OUTSIDE SCHOOL
Q1: What do you do at the weekend?
Answer: Honestly, the weekend is mainly about recovering! We live in Sharjah, so my weekdays start very early. I leave home at around 5:00am, finish at school at about 4:30pm, and sometimes don’t get home until 7:30pm because the journey to Sharjah can take around three hours. So when the weekend arrives, I’m more than ready to put my feet up!
I also use the weekend to prepare food for the week. I usually cook two or three Filipino dishes and keep them in the fridge, which makes life much easier during those busy weekdays.
I normally cook Filipino food, even though my husband is Pakistani, so we have a nice mix of cultures at home! Most of my children live in the Philippines, while my two youngest are here with me. The weekends are really our time to rest, eat good food and enjoy some family time together.
Q2: What’s your favourite place to go at the weekend?
Answer: One of my favourite places to take the children is Al Mamzar Beach. We don’t get to go very often because our weekdays are so busy, but every once in a while, we make a day of it.
It’s a chance to get some fresh air, enjoy the beach and, most importantly, spend some quality time together as a family. The children love it, and I get to relax a little too!
