Not students' job to control traffic

20th of September 2009, Sunday - This exclusive news is grabbed from The NST Online and guess what? It is related to our school, to be accurate, it's all about Board Of Traffic Warden. Without further details from me, why don't you read it out yourself?

GEORGE TOWN: Schools in the state are taking the effort to cut costs by deploying students to double up as traffic wardens. Although the effort is commendable, it is being done at the expense of the students' safety.

The students are not just risking their lives but are also jeopardising the safety of their fellow schoolmates and other road users. It is not known if these students have been trained to control traffic. To make matters worse, not all of the students on duty are provided with luminous vests. This has caused confusion among unsuspecting drivers as they could not differentiate the wardens from the students leaving the school premises or crossing the road.

One of the schools involved is SMK St Xavier.

The school's website indicated that among the duties of the board of traffic wardens is to control traffic and direct cars to their parking lots. They also have to ensure that traffic flows smoothly during peak hours. However, it did not touch on the safety of the students.

The school's Parent-Teacher Association vice-chairman Allan Cheah admitted that they did not have a full-time traffic warden. "For years we have been relying on the school's traffic warden board members to do the job." Cheah said the members' played an important role in minimising accidents and ensuring road safety.

A parent brought up the matter with the New Sunday Times recently when she almost knocked one student who was riding his motorcycle out from the school. She blamed the traffic wardens for not being attentive enough. The school's spokesman, when contacted, said the traffic wardens were only deployed to carry out their duties along Lebuh Muntri.

"We do not assign them to stop traffic along the main road as it is too busy and dangerous for them." State Education Department director Ibrahim Mohamed said he would check with the school to find out why they allowed students to perform the traffic warden's task.

Articles from NST Online. View from here.

Since New Straits Times is so interested about the safety of children nowadays, I shall not comment any further. There is only one stuff I wanted to say. Last assembly, Mr Cheng already mention about the Traffic Wardens' duties and he said that they are not going out from the school compound to do their duties anymore. So, I don't think that is going to jeopardise the students safety now.

Therefore, I wonder this news from NST are current news or maybe a bit outdated? No comment.

By,
Chun Huang