Pupils at Mnadani Primary School in Dodoma have gained life-saving road safety skills through a targeted education program aimed at protecting them from daily traffic dangers on their way to and from school.

Speaking during the road safety training held at school premises in Dadoma  yesterday,  the students said the training would help reduce the frequent road accidents that occur.

Rebecca Lambai, one of the pupils, said the training helped them identify pedestrian crossing signs on the road, which they will use to cross safely and avoid accidents.

“We were told not to run while crossing the road because we might encounter a fast-moving vehicle and cause an accident. We were also told to walk on the right side of the road so that we can see the vehicles coming from the front,” she said.

Johnson Jeremia, another pupil, said they were taught about pedestrian crossing signs which they should use when crossing roads to avoid accidents.

He mentioned several safety features, including zebra crossings, traffic lights, speed bumps, and traffic police, and emphasized that before crossing, students must take precautions by looking both ways to ensure no vehicles are approaching.

The school’s assistant Head Teacher, Jesi Jankeni, said the road safety education came at the right time since the school  was  located near a major road leading to Kondoa District, and  will help reduce accidents involving students.

She said the students were taught essential road crossing signs to ensure they cross roads safely. 

However, she noted that despite the  education, the school still faces challenges due to the lack of a perimeter fence, which allows some drivers to enter the school compound, endangering pupil'’s lives.

The teacher appealed to stakeholders to help build a fence to prevent motorcycle (bodaboda) and three-wheeler (bajaji) drivers from cutting through the school grounds and putting the lives of students at risk.

Gertrude Mpangile, the Director of Legal and Public Relations at TotalEnergies, said the project is being implemented in seven primary and secondary schools across the country, with the aim of reducing accidents involving students.

She stated that the project targets public schools located near major roads, as many students in these schools walk to and from school, requiring them to cross busy roads.

“So far, we have seven schools implementing this road safety project in the regions of Dar es Salaam, Pwani, and now, for the first time, we have come to Dodoma to implement it at Mnadani Primary School,” she said.

She added that the project has seen significant success, as schools, students, and communities have responded positively. 

The education provided has helped reduce road accidents involving students who must cross roads daily.

“We chose to invest in educating children because when you teach a child something, they don’t keep it to themselves — they educate others as well. And we’ve been successful because we collaborate with the Traffic   Unit, who provide practical road safety training,” she added.