Safety of Students on Roads

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Minister for Education what measures are taken by the Ministry to ensure that Primary schools attend to the safety of its students especially on roads next to the schools which are accessed by many students before and after school hours.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Hawazi Daipi) (for the Minister for Education): Sir, there are several measures in place to enhance road safety around our schools. In consultation with the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) introduced the Enhanced School Zone (ESZ) scheme in 2005 at Primary schools to increase the visibility of school zones. Parts of the road surface near the school gate are covered with a red textured surface to capture drivers' attention and to alert them to look out for children crossing the roads. There are also bigger traffic signs with yellow backing to indicate the start and end of school zones.

Page: 1097

Since 2009, for all new Primary schools and schools undergoing major upgrading works, MOE works with LTA to conduct a Traffic Impact Assessment to develop optimal traffic arrangements within and around the school. In addition, MOE provides schools with a handbook to support them in ensuring safety within and in the vicinity of the school as well as to provide road safety education.

Schools teach our students important personal habits and road safety behaviour. School leaders highlight road safety habits during assembly at the beginning of the year, and students are reminded again of the importance of road safety during the course of the year. For Primary schools, road safety is also a topic in the Health Education syllabus at the lower primary levels.

During peak periods such as arrival and dismissal, Primary schools deploy staff, security guards or parent volunteers at school gates to reinforce road safety behaviour.

The safety of students using roads around the school is the responsibility of all. We need motorists to play their part by slowing down in the vicinity of schools, and parents to reinforce the importance of road safety at home.

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar (Ang Mo Kio): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. I understand that road safety programmes are carried out in schools but this is probably not standardised across all schools, in particular the primary schools. What safety aspects are actually addressed in the road safety programmes? Are parents involved in such programmes with students? Because I think somehow our young children would develop habits that they see and, most of the time, they will do what their parents do, for instance, crossing the road not at the traffic lights or beating the red light. Would the Ministry consider involving parents as well in such safety programmes in schools?

Mr Hawazi Daipi: Sir, parents are informed about the importance of helping the children understand the dangers in using roads, especially for primary school children who have very little experience in using roads. Schools issue handbooks to parents to alert them to the potential dangers and to highlight the important elements in helping their children understand how they can take care of their safety. That is a very important aspect. Schools also work with parent volunteers in getting support to help ensure that the students can use the roads safely during peak hours, during arrival as well as dismissal times. Schools also work very closely with the community organisations around the school to get their support to educate members of the public. But, ultimately, I would say that it is the responsibility of all to ensure that our children can go to school and return to their homes safely, and parents play a most critical part in it.