Police expand traffic education within primary and junior high school curricula in Batam
The Batam-Ranks-Galang City Police (Polresta Barelang) in Riau Islands, together with the Batam City Government, are strengthening road safety education through a dedicated traffic curriculum in public primary (SD) and junior high (SMP) schools.
The Head of the Barelang Traffic Unit, Commissioner Afiditya Arief Wibowo, stated that the programme was launched last December and has been operational for one semester. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has also been established with the Education Office regarding the programme.
“We want to shape the character of children from an early age so they can adhere to traffic regulations. Introducing traffic order needs to be done early,” Afiditya said in Batam on Thursday.
In its implementation, the Barelang Traffic Unit provides training to teachers through a ‘Training of Trainer’ (TOT) programme, specifically targeting teachers of Pancasila and Civic Education (PPKn). Traffic safety materials are subsequently integrated into classroom learning.
“Alhamdulillah, this programme is running smoothly. Children now understand what traffic is, and are familiar with road signs, traffic lights, road markings, and various other basic rules,” he added.
In addition to classroom learning, the Barelang Traffic Unit has established ‘traffic corners’ in several schools as visual media to introduce various road signs to students. To support the programme, the unit has distributed 2,500 traffic education books to 65 junior high schools and 145 primary schools in Batam, totalling 210 schools.
“We hope this programme can serve as a pilot project that can be applied to other schools and receive broader support, including from the Ministry of Education. Previously, traffic education was limited to socialisation; now in Batam, it has been incorporated into school learning,” he said.
The Principal of SMP Negeri 3 Batam, Nyorita, acknowledged the direct benefits of the curriculum on students’ understanding of road safety. She noted the importance of the programme given that her school has 1,536 students and is located in a strategic area with heavy traffic.
“We are very grateful because the impact on our students has been extraordinary. They now understand that those aged 13 to 14 do not meet the requirements to hold a driving licence and must not operate motorised vehicles,” she said.
Through this programme, Polresta Barelang hopes that awareness of traffic order can be instilled from an early age, thereby reducing the number of traffic violations and accidents in the city.