Why is environmental education in schools important | Explained

In 2019, the Philippines Government passed a rule which mandated that every student should plant ten trees to get their graduation degree. The idea is to make the future generation more conscious of their responsibility towards the environment and solidify their contribution towards it. This unique but impactful initiative is a reminder that in this age of depleting forest cover, climate change, and scarcity of resources, environmental education is a critical step to protecting the planet’s future.

Environmental education is an understanding of the world around humans, the complexities, problems, and positives, and the same should be imparted from childhood as it prepares students to be more responsible citizens and makes them more conscious of their environmental footprint. In addition to encouraging a sustainable lifestyle, environmental education has a domino effect on the community and nation as a whole.

Typically, the curriculum or modules of environmental education are designed to ensure that they lead to a positive impact and action on the environment.

No wonder then, that powerhouse organisations like UNESCO are fighting for environmental education to be made a part of school curriculums and pedagogies on a worldwide scale by the year 2025.

In a recent statement, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azulay said, “Education must prepare learners to understand the current crisis and shape the future. To save our planet, we must transform the way we live, produce, consume, and interact with nature. Integrating education for sustainable development into all learning programs must become fundamental, everywhere.”

WHY IS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IMPORTANT?

The advantages of environmental education include a change in mindset as students learn to have problem-solving skills and analytical skills to find solutions to an existing problem.

As students learn to explore different ways to resolve real-world environmental problems, they also pick up essential skills like leadership, collaboration, reasoning, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary approaches to issues and challenges.

Associating with nature and outdoor activities is also a part of environmental learning and this can lead to low stress and anxiety levels by encouraging a feeling of well-being, confidence, and happiness.

As ambassadors of change, students can also influence their families and neighbourhood to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle and approach. Simple transitions in their neighbourhood such as conventional electricity usage to solar power, zero plastic consumption in the kitchen and outside, and choosing to carpool, cycle, or walk instead of using a car are some examples of how they can catalyse change.

On the school’s part, they can teach students the reduce-recycle-reuse formula by encouraging them to come up with ways to save paper, cardboard boxes, and anything else that can be reused again. It not only gives wings to their collective creativity and innovative spirit but genuinely contributes to saving the planet and the immediate ecosystem.

Schools can also introduce a variety of contests and quizzes on sustainability and encourage students to be more conscious of their choices, like exchanging books instead of buying them, switching off lights and fans when not in use, clever usage of water via rainwater harvesting, helping at home by segregating wet and dry garbage and a host of other activities.

As a result of environmental education, students develop a much deeper understanding of the environment and its issues. As a result, they are able to make environmentally responsible decisions.

This article is authored by Dr Tassos Anastasiades, Principal- IB, Genesis Global School, Noida.