Environmental Education

I have a meeting with different stakeholders ranging from kindergarten operator, educators, NGO representatives to the government officers on the effective implementation of environmental education last Wednesday. Environmental education is about raising public awareness, knowledge and attitude for environmental issues and challenges. Along the process to improve their skill in making an informed decision for actions on environmental conservation and rehabilitation. It is not imposing a specific environmental project for someone to undertake. It is also not a channel to disseminate pure environmental information without teaching or coaching them the knowledge. Having said this, under most circumstances it is difficult to segregate the environmental education with other components of the environmental conservation program. More than often, organising an event in conjunction with the festive celebration is used for environmental education purpose. For example, to organise demonstration session on garbage enzyme making during the Chinese New Year Street Carnival at SS2.

It was also agreed that environmental education is successful if value of an individual changes for better towards the environment. In realising this, the panelists agreed that education should be starting from young age, perhaps childhood pre-school level. In this respect, presently kindergarten and nursery become important, yet forgotten institutions. These institutions can play an important role in moulding the young children to embrace and to love our environment. Many of the time environmental programmes at the primary and secondary school level cannot be sustained as the school pupils are having too many other priorities and focuses and hence those value imposed on him will be getting rid of the earliest possible. For example, recycling exercise as told to do so during the primary school level might not be continued when the students reach secondary level as it is not in-build in their conscience and attitude. Hence, for a successful environmental friendly city to realise, it is important to engage the principals, teachers and pupils of the kindergarten.

Another point of discussion was concentrated on making a program to sustain. Sustainability becomes an issue as many will lost their interest and excitement after some time or at time mission has been accomplished. Panelists agreed that some form of recognitions and awards or even competitions should be designed to keep people continuing with their programmes. People especially the education institutions are competing each others for excellence either academically or co-curriculum. It must be appreciated for them to get a recognition from MBPJ. For privately-operated kindergarten and nursery, recognition will boost up their image, and thus the intake of students, which means income generation. In this sense, it is truly "being environmental friendly can be profitable" in practice.

For Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya to improve further and to achieve sustainable development, environmental education is critical and necessary. Integrated and total environmental education incorporated into the administration and planning system should be in place. Without doing so, effective implementation of environmental education can be very tiring.