PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry will meet with the Home Ministry, People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) and the police as soon as possible to discuss measures to reduce road accidents involving school students.
Education Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof said the three authorities will convene for a meeting to discuss and identify schools located at high-risk accident areas throughout the country.
The move followed Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid's call to offer Rela personnel to control traffic near school compounds in order to avoid the risk of fatal accidents involving students.
Zahid had said that the matter could be discussed by schools, the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Rela.
Khair welcomed Zahid’s offer to have Rela manage traffic flow at school areas in light of the recent fatal accidents.
Last Wednesday, Mohammad Haikal Helme, a Year Four pupil of SK Teluk Medan in Bagan Serai, Perak, was killed when he was knocked down by a trailer while crossing the road in front of his school.
A day before that, a student in Dungun, Terengganu was also hit by a vehicle while crossing a road to school.
Khair also reminded state education departments, districts education offices and schools to adhere to the ministry's circulars on student safety.
