cover story
Government introduces new Drivers and
Instructors Training and Testing Curriculum
By Samwel Doe Ouma
@samweldoe
The National Transport and
Safety Authority (NTSA) has
put in place a new curriculum
to train drivers and instructors
in a bid to tame errant driving
and reduce road accidents.
The new curriculum will be rolled
out to train drivers and instructors
in all licensed driving schools from
October this year as part of the
government’s efforts to make the
country’s roads safer. Traffic safety
researchers attribute over 80 percent
of all accidents to human errors.
According to NTSA’s Director
Registration and Licensing, Ms
Jacqueline Githinji, the new driving
curriculum will address existing gaps
in drivers training. Today, driving
schools operate on ad hoc basis
due to lack of standardized drivers
tr a i n i n g . D r i v i n g
schools independently
develop the curriculum,
opening loopholes of
poor training. The new
curriculum will cover all
relevant practical and
theoretical aspects of
driving.
“Driver training
has been an informal
education managed
by private parties.
NTSA feels that there
is an urgent need to
formalize this sector to
impart proper driving
education because lives depend on
the way one drives,” Ms. Githinji said.
The new curriculum will require
trainee drivers to enroll for specific
driving categories. The curriculum
categorizes driving into seven main
classes. Class A has three categories
spelling out motorcycle and three-
wheeler drivers training while class B
Ms Jacqueline Githinji, NTSA Director Registration & Licensing
covers training light vehicles drivers (maximum
3,500 kilograms with one light trailer not
exceeding 750 kg). Category C stipulates
training for light, medium and heavy trucks
while category D covers training for passenger
van, mini bus and large bus drivers. Class E
is meant for drivers who
train for multiple classes
while class F will train for
people living with disability.
Industrial, construction and
a gricultura l equipment
operators will get a license
under class G.
The different driving
categories will be using
separate training manuals.
Upon completion, qualified
trainee drivers will get a
specific driving license
for the class and category
trained on. All drivers will
undergo ethics and etiquette
training sessions.
Githinji says that with the new curriculum,
trainees will not enroll for more than one class.
Every driving category will be independent,
allowing trainees to settle on a particular class
of vehicles.
“Unlike in the past when it was compulsory
for one to train on BCE, the current system
allows a driver to go for a specific training and
...the current
system offered in
schools is not only
inadequate, but
also antiquated...
14
September 2017