Eco Schools: An
International Initiative for a Sustainable Environment
Eco-Schools is an international programme for environmental
education, management and certification that aims to raise students’
awareness on sustainable development issues through classroom study as
well as school and community action. It employs a holistic,
participatory approach in which students play an active role in running
their school for the benefit of the environment. Eco-school
certification is the Green Flag, an internationally acknowledged symbol
for environmental excellence.
Eco-Schools is a programme of “Foundation for Environmental
Education” (FEE), an international organization, which has member
organizations in 61 countries, including UAE. In UAE, it is represented
by EWS-WWF.
About 30 schools across UAE have registered as Eco-Schools. On 20th May 2012, five schools viz. Raffles International, Greenwood
International School, Dubai International Academy, Adhen Basic Cycle
School for Girls, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hala Basic Cycle School for Boys,
Fujairah, received the Green Flag.
DPS Sharjah
registered as the 30th
member in November 2011. Ms Anjum Hasan, will be representing the school
as Eco School Coordinator. Various events have already been organized by
WWF-EWS e.g. Turtle Competition, Earth Hour, Beati Watani Quiz,
Migratory Birds day, Biodiversity day in which students participated
enthusiastically. All these form a part of Eco-Schools activities which
we have successfully completed. Eco-School activities are not always
meant for competition. It is through these participations we express our
concern and care for mother Earth.
Core themes on which the Eco Schools work are – Conservation of
Energy and Water, recycling of Waste.
The school administration has taken up the matter seriously and is
working towards it. Both Primary and Senior wing will work together for
this Green cause.
Keeping this in
mind the Eco Club “Heal” of DPS Sharjah has come up with an electricity
consumption audit to be conducted by students.
•
Mandatory for all students from Grades III to XII. Parents are
requested to participate and encourage students.
•
Audit reports to be submitted to the class teachers when the
school reopens.
•
Kindly
click
here to view the audit form and do the needful.
It takes minimum one year and maximum two years to achieve the Green
Flag.
Without the involvement of the Parents, Students, and the entire DPS
fraternity, achieving Green Flag may remain a dream…But we will not
rest!!
We have miles to go before we achieve this…
Vandana Marwaha
