Environmental education

Children are the most vulnerable groups to the adverse effects of climate change and changes in the natural environment. Given this, it is especially important that children are aware of climate change and other environmental concerns, how they can be affected and what they can do. Environmental education (EE) is a holistic approach to learning in order to achieve an ecologically and socially sustainable future. Its primary purpose is to enhance an individual’s knowledge, attitudes, skills, values and motivation to improve the quality of the environment. Environmental education takes a cradle-to-grave approach as a means to achieve sustainable development.

Infusing environmental curricula in the schools
The EPA recognises the importance of environmental education and engaging students and teachers in topics related to the environment. The Agency is committed to training teachers to infuse environmental education in the various subject areas. Encouraging the infusion model approach, enables teachers to provide environmental education across a range of disciplines. This method of engagement creates holistic thinking, greater understanding and critical self-awareness among students upon their values. For example, a Maths teacher can design a lesson around electricity where students calculate how much electricity their family uses and compare it to other students. Environmental education goes beyond the purview of Science and can be incorporated in any subject, which include, Art, Language, Social Studies, Poetry and Comprehension.

Workshop targeting Social Studies teachers
In light of this, the Environmental Protection Agency was invited by the Social Studies Department at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) to conduct a training session on the importance of environmental education, more specifically infusing environmental education into Social Studies. The training was part of a two-day workshop for Grade Six teachers from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). The workshop which benefited approximately 35 teachers provided practical applications using various topics in the Social Studies curriculum on how children can be stewards of the environment.
Teachers also learned about the EPA, the importance of environmental education, ways to infuse it in their classrooms and current environmental issues both global and local. Participants were tasked with incorporating an environmental issue into an existing Social Studies lesson. Working in groups, they presented lessons on land pollution, waste management and natural disasters.
Teachers were encouraged to be creative in their approach to environmental education such as, utilising the natural environment as a classroom, incorporating simple games like environmental bingo and scavenger hunts to make concepts more concrete.
When it comes to environmental education, students must be given the space to explore and think critically. Environmental education helps students understand how their decisions affect the environment and builds the knowledge and skills necessary to address complex environmental issues.
Awareness is the first step to making informed choices. Environmental education is important as students grow up in a world that faces the threats of climate change. Although students did not create the issues caused by climate change such as sea level rise, deforestation and species lost, they inherit an earth that faces these concerns and therefore must be equipped with the tools to address them. The EPA is committed to continuing to engage students and teachers on different ways they can get involved. The workshop with NCERD was instrumental and necessary towards this end and both organisations have committed to working closely on future workshops.
In November, the EPA will be hosting its ninth Teachers Training Camp in Environmental Education. Teachers currently enrolled at the various centres of the Cyril Potter College of Education can look forward to an engaging three-day nature camp, focused on infusing environmental education into various subject areas. Interested individuals can check with the Administrative department of their centre for more information.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: [email protected] or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.