Educationists pitch for reforms in environmental education

As countries gear up to participate in climate negotiations at UN conference in Glasgow, Scotland, educationists and schools principals in India are calling for reforms in environmental education offered in schools across the country.

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) being hosted by the UK is beginning on Sunday. Over 190 countries are expected to participate in the meeting which will go on till November 12.

School principals say the current education offered on environmental issues in schools does not go beyond slogans and poster making on particular days like ‘Earth Day’ or ‘Environment day’ and have called for more practical based approach to prepare students for future.

At present, CBSE students have to study a mandatory subject on environment for classes. Principals, however, believe there is need to go beyond ‘pen and paper’ mode as far as environmental education is concerned.

“The need of the hour is to sensitise the students about climate threats and change. Environmental education should be much more than light-hearted workshops being organised on special days like Earth Day or Environment Day,” says DPS-RNE Ghaziabad principal Pallavi Upadhyaya

According to Pacific World School principal Seema Kaur, the slogans of ‘Save Environment’ and ‘Save Trees’ resonate in most schools but only for a day at times.”The hue and cry about saving the planet is audible all around but to no avail. Children are the makers of this planet, hence from nascent stage only, schools must include environment awareness programmes in the curriculum focusing on practical knowledge,” says Kaur, adding that organic farming, waste management projects, impact of greenhouse gases should be implemented on a regular basis.

MRG School, Rohini, principal Anshu Mittal says that the 21st century educators must teach young learners to engage and solve environmental issues which they face in their day-to-day life.

“This can only be achieved through experiential learning. Seminars , workshops must be included in our teaching and learning by the various environmentalists, NGOs imparting knowledge for rain water harvesting, paper recycling, vertical gardening, recreating objects using waste materials,” says Mittal.

DPS Indirapuram principal Sangeeta Hajela believes environmental education must be incorporated in Indian schools, in all earnestness, and in a definitive manner, as the environmental degradation is no more a gradual transformation.

According to Divya Jain, founder and director of The Class of One, an online only school, the majority of environmental degradation arises from a lack of education. “We have integrated the SDG projects along with the primary curriculum to sensitise kids to grow up to lead a sustainable and eco-friendly life. As India is a diverse country and every location here needs a different kind of solution, all our projects are location-specific and help kids to understand their location better and find a solution for it. There’s a compulsory environment class in the curriculum from the primary level onwards. A monthly activity is planned with parents as accomplices,” says Jain.

Shashi Banerjee, director of education, Shiv Nadar School, says they advocate nurturing children into environmentally responsible citizens who understand and act to minimise the vast impacts of climate change. “One of our core values is responsibility and a sense of purpose, and our comprehensive environmental curriculum permeates every aspect of learning, “ adds said.

Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, principal Alka Kapur suggests that environmental issues should be addressed in a vision of school-based curriculum and should be indicated in school policy and action plan while the physical environment of the school should be decorated to be a learning resource.

Satyug Darshan Vidyalaya principal Neeraj Mohan says students must be encouraged to implement the four ‘R’s of conservation: reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle at school and at home. “Schools can also appoint green ambassadors from among the students to lead the charge of the ‘green army’. They (schools) can introduce a green parameter of assessment in the annual progress card, upon which the children would be graded,” adds Mohan.