Green classes: Schools in 12 more districts to get environment education

Programme currently active in 126 schools in seven districts.

LAHORE:

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) aims to expand a programme to educate public school students about environmental issues to another 12 districts and 143 schools in the Punjab this year, officials said.

The programme, which began in 2006, is currently active in 126 schools, 18 each in Multan, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Rawalpindi and Lahore districts. It will be expanded to another 143 schools in Vehari, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Bahawalnagar, Khanewal, Attock, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Sialkot and Jhelum by next year, said an EPD official. The department is also hoping to get a boost in its budget so it can introduce advanced environmental education in government colleges, the official added.

Since 2006, the EPD has spent Rs56 million on the programme in public schools, under which kids were engaged in various activities. Story books about the importance of plants and animal and biodiversity were circulated among primary school kids while books on how to recycle garbage to make compost and on kitchen gardening were given out to matric and intermediate students. Younger students were invited to participate in environment plays, singing, painting and plantation activities. The Parks and Horticulture Authority sends 25 eucalyptus and banyan saplings to plant to each school enrolled with the EPD in the seven districts on Earth Day each year.

EPD official Amir Farooqi said that the department had introduced new elements to the campaign in 2010, such as using recycled plastic and paper to create artwork and planting trees to celebrate 2010 as International Forest Year. Another official said walks and other outdoor activities had to be limited last year because of security concerns.

Farooqi said the exhibition of artwork using disposable plastic and paper was particularly enjoyable for both teachers and students. “It was both enlightening and informative. They also enjoyed the media coverage it got,” he said.

Rubina Safdar of Government Shaikh Safdar Girls Higher Secondary School Cantonment said the campaign was a treat for her students. “When there is a tree-planting activity or exhibition of recycled art, it gets the school positive attention. Pictures appear in the newspapers and there is footage on news channels and it brightens up the students and teachers. They are motivated to take up more such positive activities,” said Safdar, a teacher of 20 years.

Kausar of Government Kinnaird High School was trained by EPD specialists to guide students on environment issues. Besides teaching Urdu and home economics to matric students, she teaches 5th and 6th graders about green issues.

“I try to get more students involved in functions held by the EPD at the Children’s Library Complex every year. In 2010, 30 students participated. Some made paintings while the other joined the plays and the music competition. It’s a matter of pride for the school when more students participate,” she said.

EPD officials said that there programme was only geared towards public schools because that’s where the campaign was most effective. “Children living in slums are more vulnerable to diseases caused by water contamination and solid waste than kids attending private schools,” said Farooqi.

EPD director general Shagufta Shahjehan said private schools had better science teachers and more extra-curricular activities than public schools so the limited resources were better spent on the latter.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2011.