Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Environmental education in educational institutes especially schools is vital in shaping young minds towards the importance of environmental conservation and protection. Environmental education has been of paramount importance for directing students towards their responsibilities to environment. Keeping this in view, the school curriculum of Nepal has been including environmental education from ages. In some schools, it is being taught as separate subject whereas in some, the topic has been merged with other subjects. But is the curriculum enough? Does it cover all the fundamental teachings as required?
Four years before when I was in school, environmental education came along with health education. We were taught about pollution, pollutants, and management aspects. Four years back I was surprised to see the same curriculum still running. Many changes in the world of conservation and protection have been made by then.. But the sad fact is that many students are still unaware of major yet simple environmental protection techniques such as 3 R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) for instance (this fact drawn as direct talk with students during environmental programs)
Environmental education at present is an important part of learning. Global warming and climate change issues are affecting people around the globe indiscriminately. For mitigation and adaptation at least minimal amount of proper knowledge is mandatory. At this time, least government should do is design an effective course a course that can cover all the fundamental aspects of environment management and protection.
In my view, environmental education in schools in Nepal should cover following aspects:
1. The regional, national and international status of environment and the burning issues around the globe.
2. The sources and causes of environmental degradation and the control and management measures in local level with hint of sustainable solutions.
3. The minimum rules, regulations and laws abiding environmental conservation.
4. The components and the functions of environment as a system.
5 The rationale behind environmental education including our responsibilities to conserve, preserve and improve.
The update of the environmental issues is very much necessary if we are looking for real changes. I have raised this issue in some environmental programs before. Hopefully, someday this will be heard and necessary changes made. The inclusion of environmental education is itself an act of appreciation. However, unless the course is designed to develop good understanding towards environment, real actions will always hide behind the books.
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11 Comments
Christy, that's a very kind comment, thank you :)
Posted 06-02-2014 11:53
Thank you everyone!
Posted 06-02-2014 11:52
It's a bitter truth. Though, we study about the environment we don't practice it in our daily life. Educated citizens are also found neglecting the environment conservation related issues. I also think that the responsibilities towards nature should be taught from early years starting from school so that we only can drean of healthy environment. Thank you smiriti Limbu for sharing such a beautiful view.
Posted 05-02-2014 23:11
In the coming years the environment subject is going to help a lot so it should be introduced everywhere.
Posted 05-02-2014 19:14
In the coming years the environment subject is going to help a lot so it should be introduced everywhere.
Posted 05-02-2014 19:14
Whenever I read your articles, I can feel that you are doing your best to spread environmental awareness through your community and you have a heart of gold :)
Yes, you made a good point about the lack in environmental education in Nepal.
Also we need to educate our future generation with long-term oriented knowledge like environment, literature and philosophy so that they can use the knowledge throughout their life and they can improve their community by implementing what they learned in school.
Posted 05-02-2014 09:02
great issue on environment education, i loved the conclusion too, thanks for sharing @Smriti
Posted 05-02-2014 03:38
All good things in life takes time to materialise. You have raised a valuable concern. God willing schools will update themselves & next gen will benefit from this.
Posted 04-02-2014 20:19
Nice essay Smriti. In my view, our education system lacks practicability too.
Posted 04-02-2014 19:22
All the best, Smriti the positive side is that Nepal has kept environment education as a subject since past times. They will update also. Sometimes it takes more that reasonable time for authorities to act.
I know you are an agriculture student. You are doing your best.
Positive Results will come. They HAVE to come.
Posted 04-02-2014 19:02
I , totally , agree with you on the need of environmental education in schools. Thanks , Smriti , for raising this concern.
Posted 04-02-2014 16:18