Road safety vital for schools

 By DELLYANNE ILAI

Road safety should be included in the primary school curriculum, the acting chief executive of the Road Transport Authority Nelson Terema says.

“It is a concern for everyone, not only vehicle owners and pedestrians,” he said. He said due to the lack of funding, the implementation of road safety rules in the curriculum had been  delayed since 2012.

“We have to plan for a better tomorrow and safety lessons have to be taught in schools,” he said.

Terema said learning road safety at an early age would help  children become responsible citizens. 

“Road safety is not a game and must not be compromised by anyone,” Terema said. “When schools start to implement this as part of lessons, children from the age of six will not have difficulties when they attend high schools and tertiary institutions.”

The educations department’s acting assistant secretary for Curriculum Development and Assessment Division Steven HupigoTandale said the document was already in place but would have to go through final editing and printing before being presented for the secretary’s approval. Tandale said no action had been taken on the document in the last two years after several workshops were held.

“Accidents occur on roadsides resulting in deaths and  severe injuries. Learning road safety rules at an early age is a way forward,” he said.