KZN TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT EMPOWERING LEARNERS

The awarding of equipment of R10 000 each as prizes to three schools in KwaZulu-Natal for the current academic year by the KZN Transport Department could help reduce the carnage on our roads.

St. Lewis Betrandes High School near Newcastle, Swayimana High School from Mpumalanga and Ntwenhle High School in Umbumbulu each received prizes to the value of R10 000 at the Finals of the Department’s Participatory Educational Techniques (PET) Project that was held recently.

The PET Project is aimed at changing learner attitudes towards road safety issues in their communities by means of participatory education techniques. Eight schools from various areas around the province participated in the finals where they were required to do a presentation of their researched road safety solutions to the road safety problems affecting their school environment. The winning solutions will be finally implemented in the affected areas.

Head of the KZN Transport Department, Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa said that for learners to endorse the KZN Department of Transport’s ASIPHEPHE Road Safety Strategy they need to know why road safety is so important.

"They also need to understand the consequences we all face through those who do not abide by road rules. The best way to provide that information is through encouraging communities to be involved in identifying their own problems and to be involved in researching their own solutions. The participation and ownership of road safety issues within communities is presently an important vehicle of change in South Africa," Mbanjwa said.

The PET Project was recognized by the national Road Traffic Education and Communication Committee as the best road safety community youth project in the country.

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