Dubai, December 10: A new interactive programme will be introduced in schools to enhance environment awareness among students in the emirate.
The Emirates Wildlife Society, in association with WWF have teamed up with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to distribute CDs of Interactive Enviro-Spellathon and promote an online programme that will impart knowledge about the natural surrounding and introduce eco friendly habits to school children.
The initiative will be launched as an extra-curricular activity for children aged between six and 14 that will be introduced in schools from 2010.
“(It) will not only educate students about the natural habitat of the UAE, but will also encourage them to engage in wider environmental issues and pass on this knowledge to their families,” said Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director of EWS-WWF.
Students’ knowledge and understanding of the implications of local and global environment issues is a criteria of evaluation for school inspections by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau of KHDA.
In a survey conducted by EWS in January, students under 15 across the UAE lacked a knowledge of species and plants distinct to the UAE.
However, 86 per cent showed an interest in learning about the subject.
The interactive programme explains the link between consumption patterns and the impact of humans on nature, therefore stressing the importance of sustainable living practices in response to climate change amongst other challenges.
“An important step has been taken to help further nurture responsible citizens of tomorrow that fully understand the need to create an environmentally sustainable Dubai,” Fatma Al Marri, CEO of Dubai schools Agency said.
Ajita Nayar, education and awareness officer at EWS, said the interactive programme conveys environment messages in a manner that easily understandable to children with practical application.
“In the first level, the programme introduces the concept of waste through a conversation that occurs in an Emirati family,” she said.
Nayar said she believes schools are increasingly becoming responsible in creating an awareness among students about their carbon footprint and ways to reduce it. “We did a survey with teachers as well and have found that a lot of children are very proactive in introducing measure to preserve the planet,” she said.
Many schools have eco-clubs and ongoing campaigns to drive home the importance of preserving the environment.
“Introducing environment friendly practices at the school level will eventually bring about widespread behavioural changes as the students take those lessons home to their families and communities,” Nayar said.
–Agencies