Under the auspices of H.E. the Minister of Social Development

Shell Road Safety Awards 2011 was held at the Ministry of Education Auditorium in Al Wattayah under the auspices of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Said Al Kalbani, Minister of Social Development and was attended by Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shaibania, Minister of Education and Mr. John Blascos, Shell Country Chairman in Oman. In addition, a number of senior officials from the ministry of Education, Royal Oman Police, and Shell also attended the ceremony.

This initiative arises as a result of the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Education, Royal Oman Police and Shell to raise road safety awareness in the society.

The national anthem was played at the beginning of the event. Then Dr. Sana bint Sabeel Al Balushia, Director General of the National Career Guidance Center at the Ministry of Education and chairperson of Shell Road Safety Awards main committee, delivered a presentation that highlighted on the main achievements and updates of the 2011 awards and presented some significant statistics on the participations submitted this year from several governorates in the Sultanate. She also commented on how the winning submissions adhered to the criteria set by the awards Committee.

Dr. Sana also explained to the audience the objectives behind setting up this annual awards that aim to spread road safety awareness among society and help in bringing up a road safety conscious generation.

After that, a number of winning participants presented their winning projects and researches that reflected true merits in finding solutions to the competition’s main areas of concern, that is over speeding, using mobile phone while driving, not wearing seatbelts, incorrect takeovers and not keeping safety distance between vehicles. 

Their projects, research and workshops focused on addressing a particular aspect related to those areas and finding practical solutions for it. This as well comprised tackling a phenomenon or a wrong practice and submitting proposals that would help in raising awareness about those aspects.  The winning submissions of all categories were displayed and presented to the audience during the ceremony.  

His Excellency the chief guest then handed over the competition awards to the winners of the following categories: best school project award (three winners), best teacher workshop award (five winners), best student research award (five winners), best student story editorial award (five winners), and finally best children drawing award (12 winners).  The governorate of South Batinah was also awarded for being the governorate with the most number of winning submissions in Shell Road Safety Awards 2011. It is worth mentioning, that the winners received cash and in-kind prizes totalling to more than thirteen thousands Omani Rials.

“The amount of interaction and level of response is quite amazing when it comes to taking part in various categories and areas of concerns related to the awards. Therefore, educators and students from different levels are keen to participate in it in order to achieve its aims. For that purpose, new categories have been added this year to enrich the awards.

For instance, safety of pedestrians, safety of children in the vehicle and crossing red traffic lights are among these new categories. In fact, adding such new categories were placed to emphasize some of undesirable behaviors and practices which have become unfortunately very common in our society especially when it comes to children’s safety in the vehicle. ”, said Dr. Sana bint Sabeel Al Balushia, Director General of the National Career Guidance Center at the Ministry of Education and chairperson of  Shell Road Safety Awards main committee.

“We are delighted to announce the winners of Shell Road Safety Awards 2011.  The contributions were all of a very high standard with the winners managing to excel by emphasizing practical road safety awareness aspects. “Shell Road Safety Awards always aspire to support and encourage the spreading of road safety awareness throughout the community” stated John Blascos, Shell Country Chairman in Oman.