PHUTI MOSOMANE
DEPUTY Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga has handed over 257 bicycles to deserving learners at the Shirelele and Hlalukweni Secondary Schools in Limpopo.
The event was part of a back-to-school campaign with the Limpopo Department of Education held at the Collins Chabane Local Municipality in Vhembe District on Monday.
The national Department of Transport has been providing low-cost mobility solutions to learners, through the Shova Kalula Bicycle programme since 2001.
The goal to provide one million bicycles to learners countrywide, who walk a distance of 3 kilometers or more to school.
Chikunga said in the current financial year, Limpopo province has a total of 69 005 learners that need transport.
”There are 257 learners in two schools that have been verified to receive bicycles in Shirelele Secondary School (107) and Hlalukweni Secondary School (150) today,” Chikunga told parents and learners.
The number of schools that have been identified in the Vhembe District is six (6), in four (4) municipalities.
The names of the schools included Shirelele Secondary School in Collins Chabane Local Municipality, Hlalukweni Secondary School in Collins Chabane Local Municipality, Maruluwe Secondary School in Musina Local Municipality, Mulenga Secondary Schools in Makhado Local Municipality and Rambuda Secondary School in Thulamela Local Municipality.
Chikunga implored all the beneficiaries to practice all that they have been taught during the safety induction and training as it is intended to empower them to stay safe on roads.
”We urge you to also put to good use the road safety kits that you have received such as your helmet and reflector vests,” Chikunga added.
She said encouraged learners and their families who are living in poverty to never give up despite challenges experienced everyday including the absence of transport money, the full school uniform and shoes.
”Please continue learning without barriers and we are here to give you your dignity back. So that you can walk tall towards your dreams,” Chikunga said.
She urged teachers to not only open the doors of learning for children, but to provide the conditions in which they can learn: ‘An enabling and safe environment between a teacher and a learner, you are the parents to these children. Teach them and protect them as you would to your own child. I wish you all the recipients a happy ride and to you all I wish you happy returns, may this be a good year for us all.”
Under non-motorized transport, the Department of transport has a bicycle distribution programme called Shova Kalula. The Shova Kalula Programme compliments the learner transport programme by focusing on learners who walk less than 5 km and walk more than 3 km to schools.
”I hope that they have imparted to you some important life-saving education on the rules of riding a bicycle on the road and that you will practice what you have learned from them. As part of being responsible road users, it is important that as we handover the bicycles to you, you are able to understand basic road safety education; and have the capability to ride a bicycle,” Chikunga told learner.
The Department has so far distributed over 100 000 bicycles to learners in all provinces since the inception of the project.
The objective of the programme is to promote cycling and provide for a low-cost mobility solution, which shall enhance rural accessibility and urban mobility to enable the poor communities to participate in socio- economic opportunities,
including schooling.
Travel times of learners to schools are significantly reduced which has positive effect in the academic performance and school attendance.
The Shova Kalula National Bicycle project was introduced as a pilot project in 2001 in order to improve mobility and access to basic needs.
The programme aims to alleviate transport pressure on poor households and ensure access to public transport.
The National Department of Transport and provincial departments are implementing the project and the National Department is responsible for the overall performance and coordination of the project, procurement and delivery of
bicycles at the national level.
On the other hand, provinces are also required to procure and distribute bicycles to support the project, identify beneficiaries in consultation with the Department of Basic Education and assist with cycling safety education awareness at selected schools.
The project aims to support the Department’s National Learner Transport Policy, Rural Transport Strategy and the promotion of Non-Motorised Transport to access basic services and opportunities.
Provincial Departments of Transport and Education undertake the identification and selection of beneficiaries for bicycles in accordance with the following approved criteria in which learners must:
Walk more than three (3) kilometres as a single trip to the school;
Be between Grade 3 and Grade 12;
Be able to understand basic road safety education; and
Have the capability to ride a bicycle.
In the province of Limpopo, the programme is managed and implemented by the Department of Education in collaboration with the provincial Department of Transport.
The policy provides for the provision of learner transport through motorized (buses/taxis) and non-motorized transport (bicycles and walking).
This is meant to ensure that the department complements the existing learner transport programme in provinces, as there are learners who still walk more than 5km to schools.
She said while the department understands the importance of easing mobility through this programme, ”we are aware that much must still be done to ensure the safety of riders to and from schools.”
Road Safety Education, Awareness and Training will be provided to the beneficiaries of the bicycles to ensure that learners have a full understanding of the road safety issues when riding the bicycles.
The Provincial Department of Transport in collaboration with the National Department of Transport has and will continue conducting the training. Dignitaries included executive mayor of Vhembe District Municipality Nengunda
Dowelani, executive mayor of Collins Chabane Local Municipality Shadrack Maluleke, and some traditional leaders present.
INSIDE EDUCATION
