The Hindu : New Delhi News : Call to teach children about environment

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 12, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Call to teach children about environment

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL 11 .Warning against growing "environmental illiteracy'' among the country's school children, social activist Medha Patkar today urged the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to be more sensitive about the subject in its books and called on teachers to involve students in issues concerning their surroundings.

Speaking at the NCERT-organised "National Rural Teachers Conference on the National Curriculum Framework Review'', Ms. Patkar said teachers had an important responsibility in teaching children about their environment and ways of protecting it by making the right choices.

"You should not talk just about problems but also choices. What are the resources and towards the fulfilment of what purpose is it used is what could determine the real issue that needs to be addressed,'' she said.

Noting that teachers should make an effort to teach students with the help of their surroundings and their own natural resources, Ms. Patkar said issues like commodification of water and commercialisation of forest resources are some of the things that need to be passed on to children.

Calling for change in attitude, Ms. Patkar said, "Corporatisation of water needs a thought. You don't get water in the railway station and so you have to buy mineral water. You just have to apply your mind to deal with the conflicts in the society.''

And while the social activist did touch upon the subject of the Narmada project by pointing out that children in the villages affected by the Narmada project had been involved in environmental issues by creating awareness about the natural resources around them, Ms. Patkar said it was important for children to know the difference between private and community properties.

Criticising the practise of keeping issues like environment in the extra curricular activity category, Mr. Patkar said, "The need today is to include these subjects in intra-curricular activities and not extra curricular..children need to know about their rights and what is happening around them,'' remarked Ms. Patkar.

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