Debating Competition Instils a Culture of Road Safety in Schools and Communities

Parkdene Secondary School from George was crowned the winner of the annual Participatory Educational Techniques (PET) provincial competition at the Gene Louw Traffic College, Brackenfell on 23 August 2014.

Parkdene Secondary won the R10 000.00 first prize.

The five winning learners will now compete in the national competition on 27 September in the Free State.

The provincial competition was arranged by the Department of Transport and Public Works and is part of the National Debating Competition by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

Percy Mdadla High School from Knysna came in second followed by Noorder Paarl Secondary. They each received R7 000.00 and R5 000.00 respectively.

The PET competition aims to:

• Encourage learners to be aware of road safety matters in their communities.
• Empower learners, facilitators and community road safety councils with practical research skills.
• Teach learners to apply road safety rules that affect their communities.
• Develop and enhance the learners’ presentation skills through practical sessions.
• Promote teamwork and participation by using participative techniques.
• Inculcate accountability, versatility and discipline in learners.

Competition Format

Teams were required to identify road safety problems affecting their schools or communities, and then formulate creative and practical solutions to each problem using the three Es:

• Education
• Engineering
• Enforcement

The solutions had to be presented in written and verbal presentations, followed by a traffic model drama, dance or song.

The team from Parkdene Secondary School is looking forward to competing in the national PET competition to be held in the Free State on 27 September 2014.

Felicia Winter (17), a Grade 11 learner, says winning the competition was a proud achievement for the team.

“We didn’t expect to win today as we faced many challenges to prepare for the event. But we take pride in ourselves for being winners, and ambassadors of road safety campaigners.

“We will make use of the advice we received from the adjudicators and department officials to prepare for the nationals. We hope to make our school, community and province proud by taking this forward to promote road safety issues,” she said.

Donald Grant, Minister of Transport and Public Works stressed the importance of taking road safety to a new level through a comprehensive approach. He encouraged competing schools to share their research in their respected communities and continue to raise awareness.

“Every competing school is a winner as ambassadors for road safety in the province. Pedestrian safety and learner transport have been identified as serious issues for the department, so it’s fitting to see learners doing research to assist role players to potentially safe lives on our roads. We need to take road safety seriously if we want to add value to communities going forward,” Grant said.

The department will be assisting Parkdene High School in the following weeks to prepare them for the national PET competition.