Programmes for School, Strengthening
Environmental Education in School System
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Environmental education (EE) refers to organised efforts to teach how natural
environments functions and particularly, how human beings can manage behaviour and
ecosystems to live sustainably. The term of implies education within the school system
from primary to post-secondary. However, it sometimes includes all efforts to educate the
public and other audiences, including print materials, websites, media campaigns etc.
The process of enhancing
One's knowledge and skills ,
Changing attitudes towards the environment
Acting positively to address problems and issues concerning the environment.
Environmental Education among Students
The environment scenario of India is very wide indeed. At the first level, special
attention must be paid to children. They are to be made aware of health, nutrition,
sanitation, hygiene, development, water and food contamination, fodder and fuel
wood etc. NGO’s have to play a significant role in environmental education and
awareness.
A. Formal Environmental Education.
B. Non-Formal Environmental Education.
A. Formal Environmental Education:
The spectrum of EE has four major interrelated components, i.e., Awareness, real life situation, conservation and sustainable
development.
1. Primary School Stage:
The attempt is made to sensitize the child about environs. Emphasis should be mostly (75%) on building up awareness,
followed by real life situation (20%) and conservation (5%). Teaching strategy includes audio-visual and field visits.
2. Lower Secondary Stage:
At this level objective must be real life experience, awareness and problem identification. The contents are supplemented
with general science. Teaching, practicals and field visits are to be done.
3. Higher Secondary School Stage:
The emphasis must be on conservation, assimilation of knowledge, problem identification and action skills. Contents may be
science-based and action oriented work.
4. College Stage:
Maximum emphasis should be on knowledge regarding sustainable development and conservation. The content must be
PROGRAMMES FOR STRENGTHENING ENVIRONMENTALEDUCATION
IN SCHOOL SYSTEM
Following are the programmes organised at school level for creating environment preservation and awareness.
1. ENVIRONMENTAL CLUBS
Schools can form an environmental club or become a part of an existing one in the vicinity and conduct activities around
environment preservation. These could include setting up a small organic garden that will provide fresh vegetables for the
cafeteria. Children can also support local wildlife and reduce Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by planting trees,shrubs and
flowers in the school playground.
2 . CLEANLINESS DRIVES
Schools can have cleanliness drives on campus where children make sure that everything is kept clean and litter free.
From classes to school playgrounds-they should be made to feel responsible for keeping all areas spotlessly clean. They
should also be encouraged to participate in cleanliness drives in their communities.
3. EMBEDDING ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION IN THE CURRICULUM
Schools can also make sure children's start learning about environment preservation from an early age. If children are being
taught about water as an environmental studies topic then teachers can cover local water bodies likes lakes and rivers. They
can apprise the children about water scarcity and ask them to creatively think of ways to conserve water by water harvesting,
innovte means to keep water bodies clean and so on.
4. ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY POLICIES
Schools should makesure they have environmental policies that they follow in school and students should
be educated on the same. They can install solar panels so children can actually see and experience
environment friendly practices daily.
5. ENVIRONMENT PRESERVATION POSTERS CREATED DIGITALLY
Schools have adequate space where display screens can be placed to run digital posters, artwork etc.to
make it a part of their subconcious learning. One corner can be dedicated to environmental preservation
where,students, teachers and parents can contribute to the same with digital posters,drawings,poems,latest
articles etc.
6. ADOPT A PLANT PROGRAMME
Schools can have a programmes to adopt one plant in school and one at home and take pledge to provide
complete care to it with the help of a gardeners or parents or others.
7. TEACH CHILDREN TO HAVE EMPATHY FOR LIVING CREATURES
Empathy is an important value that schools need to inculcate in children. They need
to understand that all living creatures need to be looked after. This can be imparted
through stories and role play where children become animals, plants or insects ask
them how they would feel if their homes and habitats are destroyed.
8.HAVE SPECIAL DAYS DEDICATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Organise special events like a 'kids walk to school day' or 'create no trash day'
involving parents too.
9.PILOT PROJECT ON ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION IN SCHOOL
SYSTEM (EESS)
This project was earlier launched with the basic objective of Strengthening
environment education in the formal school system.
B. Non-Formal Environmental Education
This education is designed for any age group, participating in cultural, social, economic development
of the country. They form clubs and arrange exhibition, public lectures, meetings, environmental
campaigns. Following are the main constituents of this education.
1. Adult Education:
Adults may influence the society to protect the precious environs by generating posters, slides,
audio-visual and information pictures.
2. Rural Youth and Non-student Youth:
They may act as volunteers.
3. Tribals and Forest Dwellers:
5. Eco-development Camps:
Currently a set of a guide lines has been prepared by D.O. En to create awareness in
youth and to acquaint them with the practice of sustainable development.
6. Non-government Organisations:
There are more than 200 NGOs engaged in environmental protection.
7. Public Representatives:
India has environmental forums for MPs and MLAs to discuss environmental
problems facing the country. They stimulate public interest for saving the environs.
8. Training Executives:
Regular courses should be arranged for environ activities among administrators.
9. Research and Development Programmes:
Such R and D efforts are supported by D.O. Environment in Biosphere and Man.
10. Foundation Courses:
The courses for the probationers selected for the IAS, IFS, IPS and cadets of three wings of Armed Forces need to
be supplemented with foundation courses on environment relevant to their area of specialisation.
11. Development of Educational Material and Teaching Aids:
Materials for media (T.V, radio, films, news -papers etc.), audio, mobile exhibitions, audio-visual materials must be
operated by competent manpower. One such centre in India is Centre for Environmental Education, Ahmedabad.
12. Development of Trained Manpower:
Department of Environment (DOE) must organise training programmes for the professors, technical personnel,
lecturers and legal experts.
13. National Environment Awareness Campaign or National Environment Month:
Commencing from 1986, DOEn conducts NEAC and NEM. From November 19th to December 18th every year is
observed as NEM.
