In a significant step towards reducing rising number of road accidents, the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) is planning to introduce lessons on road safety in the school curriculum of middle and secondary classes. The education board, in collaboration with the union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), is likely to introduce new chapters from the next academic session.
‘The curriculum drafts have been prepared and the chapters will be included in the books. The chapters are prepared by International Road Federation (IRF), a Geneva-based global body working for safer roads along with Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE). We have sent the drafts to the National Council of Educational Research and Training, and Union Human Resource Minister Smriti Irani for evaluation and incorporation’ said KK Kapila, chairman of IRF. The chapters will be included in four subjects — Social Science, Hindi, English and Maths for classes 6 to 10. ‘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’, Kapila added.