Education Ministry launches driving programme

In a bold move to try and circumvent some of the carnage taking place on the nation’s roads, the Education Ministry along with Drewsyl’s Driving Academy and Toyota TT Ltd, yesterday launched the Pre-Student Driver Education Programme, which will soon be introduced to 16-year-old students in secondary schools. In delivering the feature address at yesterday’s launch at the Ambassador Hotel, Education Minister Hazel Manning commended both Andrew and Sylvia Tappin of Drewsyl’s Driving Academy for their initiative in conceiving and developing this programme. Stating that education was recognised universally for its role in transforming human behaviour, Manning express-ed deep concern about the behaviour and attitudes of those who drive vehicles on the nation’s roads. “Violence on the roads is a critical element of the violence rampant in the society at large,” she claimed.

One of the ministry’s initiatives designed to create a culture of peace in the classroom titled “Project Peace” will incorporate an activity to promote a sense of driver responsibility, as most of the accidents taking place today occur as a result of young and reckless drivers. “Driver responsibility education recognises that a vehicle in the hands of an irresponsible driver is a lethal weapon,” Manning said. Revealing that the Ministry of Works and Transport had already started conducting courses for students in road safety at the primary school level, the minister warmly praised Toyota TT Ltd for its corporate sponsorship of the programme. CEO of Drewsyl’s Driving Academy, Andrew Tappin Snr, said persons can no longer afford to ignore the pandemic disease that is threatening to take over the nation’s roads, as an estimated quarter million people have already died worldwide from vehicular accidents.