Education Ministry plans rules for school transport after fatal accidents
Education Ministry plans rules for school transport after fatal accidents
For all the News from Mashonaland Central, Join One of Our Groups
Zimbabwe’s education authorities say they are considering a regulatory framework for transporters who ferry learners, amid renewed concern over roadworthiness, overloading and driver conduct following a series of fatal accidents involving children.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said it is mulling a policy that would see it regulate school-run transporters, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
Ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said the move is being driven by continued reports of learner deaths on school transport routes, which he said may be worsened by the condition of vehicles and negligent driving.
“The Ministry is concerned by the continued loss of life of learners on school transport routes and we believe this is worsened by the condition of vehicles plying these routes or negligent driving,” Ndoro said.
He said the urgency of the issue had been highlighted by the Gweru crash, which the President declared a national disaster.
“The urgency of the matter has been underlined by the Gweru disaster, where the President declared the incident a national disaster,” Ndoro said.
Ndoro stressed that the proposal is not yet policy, but said the ministry wants learners to be transported in vehicles that are suitable for carrying children, by drivers properly licensed for that responsibility.
“So, this is not yet policy, but what we are saying is that learners should be ferried by vehicles suitable to carry learners and the drivers should be licenced to drive learners, not a haphazard scenario,” he said.
He added that the concerns extend beyond Gweru, pointing to another incident in Chiredzi, where an accident earlier this week claimed the lives of children travelling to school, prompting residents and authorities to confront the safety risks facing learners on the roads.
The proposed framework comes as parents and communities continue to raise questions about enforcement of roadworthiness checks, overloading and safety standards for vehicles contracted for school transport across Zimbabwe.
Mundubile seeks new party route as Hichilema eyes second term
Mundubile seeks new party route as Hichilema eyes second term For all the News from Mashon…
Baradzanwa Cultural Village Emerges as a Premier New Year Tourism Destination in Mazowe
For all the News from Mashonaland Central, Join One of Our Groups Multitudes of …
