How To Make Schools More Eco-Friendly? 10 Ways Which Transform It Into A Sustainable Hub
When it comes to environmental awareness, students these days are inquisitive and always ready with a ¡°why¡± or ¡°how¡± about things. Schools lead the way in creating this consciousness. Developing this sense of consciousness starts at school and it's pivotal that children grow up with the awareness to adapt a more sustainable lifestyle.
The idea of switching to sustainability and finding alternatives is a prerequisite in the current times and with activists like Greta Thunberg spearheading the Fridays for Future walk, this has become all the more apparent.
School buildings and infrastructure across the world are some of the biggest energy users and the related issues to sustainability and environmental consciousness almost always fall through the cracks. Schools remain a huge source of pollution and waste that degrades the environment.
In keeping with an eco-friendly strategy, two schools in Kerala, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pangode, in Thiruvananthapuram and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ottapalam, set a leading example back in 2018 and they are still following the sustainable routine in the schools.
According to reports, school premises at KV Pangode are well supplemented with trees and plants, and the whole school population relies on sustainable modes of transport like cycling.
Another school in Assam accepts polythene bags and plastic wastes as the only form of fee. The school makes students pledge that they will not burn plastic. Instead, they will hand over any plastic waste to the school.
From gardening skills, taking care of animals, understanding renewable energy, carpentry, to fully utilising the power of the technology, this Assam school is a leading example in the eco friendly world.
Kids nowadays are quite inquisitive and always ready with a ¡°why¡± or ¡°how¡± when being taught something new. It is in the first few years of a person¡¯s life that we learn new concepts quickly.
To drive this sense of environmental responsibilities in pupils here are some of the important steps every school must take.
1. Introduce green habits.
A green patch of land can be dedicated on the school premises for a mini farm and students can be taught about planting and caring for it. It's a learning practice and it helps them be in tune with eco-friendly activities. Other sustainable habits like getting children to switch off all appliances and lights when not in use can be promoted. Students should be taught to ensure taps are closed properly after use and also to use water sparingly.
2. Class dedicated to cleaning.
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For kids the ring of the last bell means scuttering with their bags to home. Teachers can instead dedicate a small class at the end of day, dedicated just for cleaning the classroom and the school premises. It's not just aimed at driving environmental consciousness, but is also a fun bonding activity. Start a recycling system in your classroom and show the children how to use it and recycle their things.
3. Green patch exercise.
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This is aimed at going beyond textbook theories and implementing theories in real life. Teachers must impart practical knowledge by introducing 'do at home' experiments like planting trees in the area or finding solutions to reduce and segregate waste in-house.
4. Lessons on saving energy.
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When we speak about an 'energy-efficient future' most of it relies on how we sensitise the younger generation - to make sure they have clarity on renewable energy and the power of technology that goes a long in making things easier for them in the future. Movement lead by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg stands as a towering example about just how conscious the younger generations is when it comes to issues related to climate change and sustainability.
5. Homework on sustainability.
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Setting 'eco-friendly' themes every week can be an engaging and learning experience for children. From no plastic use to minimalism, the students can be given specific tasks to do every week and write a detailed essay on what they learned from it. This will help inculcate sustainable habits in the future.
6. A club dedicated to environmentalists.
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Starting an environmental club at school is a great way to get students energised about taking care of the Earth and helping the community while learning about some of the most important issues facing the world in the 21st century. Clubs can work together and share experiences with each other to help get a sense of the bigger picture about environmental and climate issues.
7. Mock awareness rallies.
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To ensure that students have ownership of what they want to change and how to implement these changes, can be done by conducting mock awareness rallies within the school premises. A group of 8 to 10 kids can be chosen to research a topic related to the environment and help sensitise the rest The exercise will push students to research, investigate how and why things happen, and make their own decisions about complex environmental issues..Learning transcends the classroom and awareness rallies are the best way to whip up that enthusiasm.
8. Anti pollution ambassadors.
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With the spike in air-pollution across North India, many schools in NCR started an exercise to engage students as anti-pollution ambassadors.
The anti-pollution ambassadors were tasked with spreading awareness on the need of conserving the environment by not burning the paddy straw.
Lakhs of children studying in schools situated in rural areas participated in the anti-stubble burning rallies organized in their villages. Exercises such as these go a long away in making the younger generation aware of the environmental impact caused by certain activities.
9. Produces own power
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Back in 2017, a school in Bengaluru set an example by producing its own power and supplying the surplus to the grid, and also gave its students important lessons on the environment. A whopping 3 crores has been invested in solar panels and the Karnataka state government aids them for it. Its not just solar energy that the school is investing in, it also has a biogas plant that helps teach students about the process.
10. Skits and plays based on spreading environmental awareness.
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Having skits and plays in school promotes two important rules, caring for our environment and showing respect for other cultures. Messages about recycling and reducing global emissions gently worked into a fun and engaging story-line goes a long way in sensitising kids.
11. Get Plants for the classroom.
Placing a plant in each classroom has numerous benefits. A plant can help reduce dust and carbon dioxide levels while preventing the growth of pollutants.
Illustration By Ranak Mann