'We want police to assist students'

WE ASKED readers for their suggestions and ideas on how to improve school safety, and prevent any untoward incident adversely affecting our schoolchildren in Brunei Darussalam. Below are their comments sent in through Twitter:

@Talkingaloudbru: Parents should park safely away from the school. Walking is good for you and your child.

@Talkingaloudbru: This tragedy must never happen again, let government agencies experienced in promotion such as BKN and @hpcbrunei lend their expertise and help those in charge at MOE Brunei to promote school safety. Let's have private sector champions like Shell did for road safety, pour your CSR programmes into school safety.

@Zrin201: I (STPRI student) witnessed that there's NO police's presence and assistance while I'm walking across the road. We want the police to assist us, that's all.

@Norali-AliYusop: @TheBruneiTimes Start covering those open drains and potholes to avoid blind, low vision and students with limited mobility from injuring themselves.

@TheBruneiTimes: No replies from parents on Twitter about police help in crossing the street yet @Zrin201. Tell us more about the dangers of crossing the street from school.

@Zrin201: Before the repair works (near the school), STPRI students used the designated walkway beside the road. Now it's closed, we have no choice so we have to jaywalk along the road/cross the road dangerously to get to the bridge.

@Zrin201: Again, the police weren't there when we need them.

@Izamwrites: Comments on #schoolsafetyBT point out that old schools should review their layout and designs, any new plans should implement lessons learnt.

@SadieeHadi: Reduce speed by making new speed bumps. Making a bridge is expensive, only some people used it and zebra crossing.

@zulfadly: @SadieeHadi I disagree. Change will not happen overnight. Strongly believe zebra crossing and bridges can work.

@SadieeHadi: @zulfadly let's hope people follow it. I saw people seldom use it.

@zulfadly: If fines are imposed and acted upon for jaywalkers then maybe people will start using it.

@SadieeHadi: @zulfadly I don't know if government agency will do fines but I'm sure they would approve in others matters/ways.

@Gx776: Talk abt #schoolsafetyBT , if we dont educate the general public of the proper functions and reasons of safety, it will just be another case of "kesian".

@zulfadly: @SadieeHadi If zebra crossings in Gadong business area work, then there is reason to believe it will work near school areas.

@Zrin201: @TheBruneiTimes I took this picture after school, I was lucky to safely cross the road and get to the bridge. And as you can see there's no police at all.

You can read the rest of this conversation by using the hashtag #schoolsafetyBT in the Twitter search box. To participate in our Twitter conversations, follow us @TheBruneiTimes and check our Facebook page for announcements.

The Brunei Times