MBPP to pay token sum for managing vehicles near schools, keeping students safe
THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has announced that it will provide a monthly allowance as a token of appreciation to school traffic wardens for their contributions in maintaining student safety.
The collaboration between the MBPP traffic sub-committee, state Education Department, and the police has resulted in an increase in the number of wardens managing traffic around schools. Penang Island mayor Datuk A. Rajendran extended congratulations to the involved parties and praised MBPP councillor Tan Soo Siang for securing the department’s support.
During an event at the MBPP Town Hall at the Esplanade, Rajendran expressed gratitude and explained how this collaboration had led to the appointment of school wardens from primary and secondary schools.
According to Buletin Mutiara, 87 schools on Penang Island participated in a police briefing for newly appointed wardens.
In his speech, Rajendran stated that the purpose of the briefing was to equip school traffic wardens with the necessary skills to regulate vehicular movement and assist in facilitating safe crossings for students. Upon successful completion of the training, participants will be certified as school traffic wardens.
Rajendran expressed hopes that the appointment of wardens would reduce traffic congestion in school areas, particularly during school hours, and ultimately improve safety.
A police officer briefing wardens on how to effectively control traffic during peak hours.
“I would like to advise road users to always be careful and adhere to the traffic rules and instructions of the wardens when passing through the school grounds,” Rajendran added.
Rajendran mentioned that the school traffic warden service was implemented 30 years ago to ensure the safe crossing of students, especially in schools without pedestrian crossings.
However, with the increasing number of private vehicles used for student transportation, traffic congestion has become a major issue. As a response to this challenge, the then MPPP (now MBPP) established a traffic sub-committee specifically for schools in 2012.
The sub-committee has implemented various strategies to address these issues, such as one-way traffic systems, road widening for student drop-off and pick-up points, and installation of traffic lights.
Also present at the event were Northeast District Police headquarters traffic control officer Insp Haris Safuan, Penang Education Department students’ affairs unit assistant director Mohd Shukri Idris, MBPP Health Department deputy director Dr Chin Wee Loon, MBPP Engineering Department director Cheah Chin Kooi, and representatives from various schools nominated as traffic wardens.
Tan expressed her gratitude to the state Education Department for their important role in enlisting more than 80 traffic wardens, including parents, parent-teacher association members, and school staff members.
“This marks the first time we have seen such a high number of participants, which highlights the increasing awareness of the importance of engaging parents and staff as traffic wardens,” Tan stated.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
