Environmental Education for Kindergarten

Whenever the need for environmental education was discussed, focus would be given to the students from primary and secondary schools, and some time the communities. Having said this, we have always complained about students with thorough training and practices for environmental conservation during schooling days forgot to be environmental friendly immediately after leaving the schools. What went wrong then? Some offered the reason of environmental conservation value has not being inculcated and becoming a norm and way of life. They further argued that students at the primary level is too burdened with the academic subjects that peripheral life long learning topics are scarified. This is understood with many schools fighting for glory on academic excellency and parents "kiasu" symptom.

Acknowledging this, Environmental Working Committee of Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya organised the inaugural environment education workshop specially for the operators and teachers of the kindergarten in Petaling Jaya last Thursday. The Workshop is to raise awareness, knowledge and skills on environment conservation and sustainable development. It is hope that acquiring the skills will motivate them to initiate sustainable initiatives and programmes together with the children aged 6 years and below within their school compound. The participants were taught on sustainable development and Local Agenda 21, natural resources, urban ecology, solid waste management, energy conservation as well as demonstration on natural craft making, Eco-enzyme making and tree plantings. At the afternoon session, the participants were divided to group brainstorming an action plan on sustainable kindergarten.

It is such a wonderful experience for having the kindergarten stakeholders for the first time in our effort pursuing sustainability. It is also the first time that participants are asking more of these kind of capacity building programmes. It is also heartening to see the involvement of NGOs in this workshop. We have Ecoknights, GEC, CETDEM, DANIDA-SWMC, RT Flat PKNS PJS2, May Collection, Beautiful Gate and Justlife partnering with LA 21 MBPJ to conduct the one-day event.

The participants are promised of RM300 as an incentive for them to implement any sustainable initiatives within a month after the workshop. After the third month, evaluation will be carried out to select the kindergartens with best practices to share. 3 kindergartens with best practices will be conferred with Sustainable Kindergarten Award. This must be the first time ever such Award is presented, I presume.

With the inclusion of kindergarten, LA 21 PJ has extended the environment education training from pre-school children to the community. This is crucial to educate since young, practice it daily as way of life and hence will not feel uneasy of practicing some "dirty" acts such as collecting and sorting rubbish for 3R etc.