Hazards of one-wheeling: Schools directed to use sms to raise awareness

"Many lives have been lost because of the activity," ASA general secretary Mehboob Hussain

LAHORE: The Education Department has been directed to raise awareness about the hazards of one-wheeling in the days leading to August 14 celebrations.

The directive has been issued by the Home Department through a letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, to the secretaries of the Higher Education Department (HED), the School Education Department (SED), the Livestock Department, the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, Specialised Healthcare Department, Labour Department and the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) chairman.

The letter says, “Over the past few years, the number of people injured and killed while one-wheeling has grown alarmingly. This trend is still on the rise, necessitating an intervention by educational institutions so that young students are informed about the hazards of performing road stunts and the legal restrictions in this regard.”

The educational institutions are directed to devise a mechanism for mobile messaging to raise awareness among students about one-wheeling.

The programme should especially focus on curbing one-wheeling on Independence Day. Talking to The Express Tribune, Academic Staff Association (ASA) general secretary Mehboob Hussain said one-wheeling was a matter of grave concern. “Many lives have been lost because of this activity,” he said.

“The teachers will play their role to end this menace. However, short-term solutions like an sms sent to a student will not be enough. This requires a comprehensive campaign which includes seminars and walks. That will be possible only once schools reopen.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2016.