In an attempt to promote safe behaviour on the roads, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport will host the provincial Road Safety Schools Debate competition from 13 to 14 August 2010 at Gonubie High School in East London.
The project has been running since 2007 reaching learners and educators at the same. Grades 9, 10 and 11 learners from both rural and urban areas are taking part.
The Road Safety Schools Debate program is a national project in line with the Road Traffic Management Corporation's (RTMC) pedestrian safety strategy. It is an initiative presently being implemented in all provinces with much success.
The objectives of the project are:
- to encourage learners to be aware of road safety issues or problems.
- to empower learners with research skills
- to teach learners to take responsibilities of road safety problems that affect their communities.
- to instil a culture of safe road usage.
Initially, districts conduct their own eliminations starting from sub–district level to district level, and form a team that will participate at the provincial level.
For the provincial competition, learners are given four road safety related topics to prepare and they compete with other district teams to get the five best speakers for the province.
Topics for this year's provincial competition are:
- First phase
This house believes that alcohol and drug abuse are the major causes of road accidents. - Second phase
This house believes that South African government is deeply committed to rail safety and is winning the battle. The house brings the message: "Your safety, my safety our safety". - Third phase (semi finals)
This house believes that road safety is important for the country's economic development. - Fourth phase (finals)
This house believes that the implementation of Administrative Adjudication of Road Safety Offenses (AARTO) will help curb road accidents caused by reckless driving.
From this level, five best speakers will compete at national level with other provinces on road safety issues.
The provincial debate competition has been scheduled as follows:
Date: 13 and 14 August 2010
Time: 13h00 to 18h30 (first day)
08h30 to 13h00 (second day)
Venue: Gonubie High School, East London, Gonubie
Media contact:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Cell: 082 44 22 388
Source: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
