NCERT books to impart lessons in road safety

Soon, students of middle and secondary classes will get lessons in road safety and rules. Taking a leaf out of the books of developed countries such as the US and UK, the road transport and highway ministry has decided to incorporate chapters on road safety in the Central Board of Secondary Education curriculum.

Soon, students of middle and secondary classes will get lessons in road safety and rules. Taking a leaf out of the books of developed countries such as the US and UK, the road transport and highway ministry has decided to incorporate chapters on road safety in the Central Board of Secondary Education curriculum.

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The curriculum drafts have been prepared and the chapters will be included in the academic year 2014, said Sanjay Bandopadhyay, joint secretary of the ministry. “We have sent the drafts to the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for evaluation,” said Bandopadhyay.

According to ministry sources, a chapter on road safety will be included in four subjects — Social Science, Hindi, English and Maths for classes VI to X.

The International Road Federation (IRF) and Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) have prepared the draft curriculum with help from a group of school teachers across several schools in Delhi. Sources said the draft committee may take inputs from the Delhi traffic police, if required.

“We have hired a team of experienced teachers from different Delhi schools as well as illustrators to design the chapters coupled with graphics and exercises. Once the ministry gives its approval, these chapters will be integrated into the existing curriculum,” said KK Kapila, chairman, IRF.

The Delhi traffic police have appreciated this initiative. “This is a wonderful initiative for road safety and will provide education for life to future road users,” said Anil Shukla, additional commissioner of police (traffic).

The chapters will edify students on how to cross a street safely and correctly and will also comprise lessons on understanding traffic signs, highway codes, road norms, traffic hazards and safety on roads among others.