Environment Education

Practical guide to ecology literacyDr. R.N. PardiwalaSocieties the world over are beginning to appreciate that environment conservation is the ultimate raison d‚etre. Without clean air, fresh water and healthy food, survival ‚ or even enjoyment of prosperity ‚ is impossible; all other issues are subordinate to this imperative. Moreover there is a simultaneous awareness that only the educational system of a society can create the cultural and attitudinal changes required to ensure that future generations acquire the necessary skills to live sustainable lives in harmony with Mother Earth. Appropriately the United Nations has declared the forthcoming era ‚ 2005-2015 ‚ as a ‚ËœDecade of Education for Sustainable Development‚. In India, environment education is in its infancy. The subject has long been regarded an additional burden on an already dense curriculum, resulting in its reduction to the mere transmission of a collection of facts related to nature study and popularly known as environmental science. Largely pre-defined by syllabi and textbooks approved by education boards, environment education has been subjected to a dominant culture that requires mastery of printed facts. The great majority of schools when dealing with environment studies focus on ‚Ëœshort-term‚ scientific data and social trends rather than ‚Ëœlong-term‚ lifestyle changes, and approach issues related to environmental degradation as problems capable of being solved by technological interventions. However the grim reality is that mere technology cannot possibly solve environmental ills and a deeper commitment is needed to save our planet. A wealth of knowledge and perhaps more important, a host of practical skills are required to address this stupendous task. Students need to be taught how they, as individuals, can and must protect ‚ even upgrade ‚ their environment by assuming responsibility and becoming proactive, community-minded citizens. Curriculum integration starting from primary school is an important prerequisite of environment education. Currently school curriculums divide reality into what seems to children a maze of subjects disconnected from real life. However, environmental education is one of the few subjects that can overcome this fatal disconnectedness and serve as a link between subjects. For example, while studying art we need to maximise the use of scrap and substitute toxic materials such as lead-based paints with vegetable dyes to colour and paint. The stimulation of such awareness also encourages children to develop their own views and opinions on environment issues. However environment education can only succeed on a mass-scale if the concept of community-based learning becomes an essential part of academic cultures. One of the most important aspects of ecological literacy is developing a culture of work for and with the community. Children must be taught that building community partnerships, such as locality management groups, can make the hardest tasks simpler. Finally, to teach and impart the principles of eco-friendly learning across schools in India, it is imperative to improve teacher training courses by incorporating new modules like environment education so that the next generation of teachers is better equipped to teach the subject. The Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CERE), a Mumbai-based…