123 Kolkata: In a significant move to integrate road safety awareness into the school curriculum, the West Bengal govt wants formation of ‘Road Safety Clubs' in schools under the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). The initiative, aimed at fostering a culture of responsible road behaviour, will engage students, teachers, parents and NGOs to champion the cause.
The clubs will operate under the ongoing road safety programme led by the transport department, with the school education department acting as a key stakeholder. Initially, the programme will focus on govt, govt-aided and govt-sponsored schools but private schools, too, will be encouraged to adopt similar initiatives. "If students understand the importance of traffic rules, they can influence their families to adopt safer practices," an education department official said.
The programme will leverage partnerships with NGOs and police administration to enhance the reach and impact of the initiative. This collaborative approach aims to create a generation of responsible road users, reducing accidents and fatalities in the state. With CM Mamata Banerjee championing this cause, the integration of road safety into school education promises to bring long-term behavioural changes, ensuring safer roads for all.
The clubs aim to make students ambassadors of road safety by educating them about road signage, signals and markings. They will highlight the risks of speeding and share road accident statistics.