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- Ελληνικά
It is with great pleasure that I am with you today for the inauguration ceremony of the Preschool Traffic Education Park, here at the Sotiras Public Kindergarten. A park constructed as part of the upgrading of the kindergarten courtyard, giving children the opportunity to actively participate in the theoretical and experiential application of traffic education.
Traffic education is a key pillar of road safety and, therefore, projects such as the one we are inaugurating today contribute decisively to the cultivation of respect and the correct application of the rules governing the relevant code. The cultivation of road awareness from childhood contributes to the development of a traffic culture in which we are aware of our rights and obligations in order to act responsibly as drivers, pedestrians, passengers and cyclists, while at the same time helping to raise awareness of the dangers of traffic on the road network. In this context, the effective formation and change of attitudes regarding safe and responsible behaviour on the road contributes to safe traffic and accident prevention.
Recognising the importance of information and awareness-raising from childhood, we attach particular importance to the cultivation of road awareness and the development of a culture of sustainable mobility in our children, young people and young adults.
Recognising the importance of information and awareness-raising from childhood, we attach particular importance to the cultivation of road awareness and the development of a culture of sustainable mobility in our children, young people and young adults. Traffic education is included in the Comprehensive Health Education Programme, which is applied at all levels of education. In addition to teaching the subject, and taking into account the Strategic Road Safety Plan 2020-2031, we implement a series of actions, which include: the use of school life for the safe movement of children in the school road environment, the use of specialized computer software by children, the holding of lectures in schools by the Cyprus Police Force and other institutions and the organization of Road Safety Days/Weeks with relevant activities and involvement of parents/guardians.
At this point, I consider it important to point out that, as the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, we attach particular importance to pre-school education, as this is the solid foundation on which our children will be built to have a successful school life thereafter. As you are well aware, on the basis of the Governance Programme, we have set as a priority the transition to a modern, human-centred and inclusive school. In this context, with specific reference to pre-school education, we are moving towards the introduction of early intervention diagnostic procedures in kindergarten and pedagogical measures for prevention, early diagnosis and intervention in issues of violence/violence and literacy, with particular emphasis on pre-school education. At the same time, it is now known that we have already moved forward with the passage by the House of Representatives of free compulsory education from the age of 4, one of the biggest reforms in the field of education in recent years, with obvious positive pedagogical benefits for our children.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Traffic Education Park that we are inaugurating today, as a simulation of the road network and as a multi-purpose game, will make a substantial contribution to empowering children to become tomorrow's active citizens. I would like to warmly congratulate all those involved in the project. The School Board, as well as the Community Authority, the Parents and Guardians Association and the school management, for their close cooperation with the Technical Services of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, as well as all the sponsors who supported and contributed substantially to the completion of the project.
Dear children,
You now have your own Traffic Education Park at your disposal. A park in which you can play, train and learn. I am sure that together with your teacher(s), by applying the rules and good practices for safe travel in this space, you will develop into conscientious road users and in the future into conscientious drivers for you and those around you.
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