Issues

A long way towards national environmental consciousness

Many school children lack exposure to nature conservation. Yet they are our future voters, decision-makers, leaders and consumers. Although conservation issues are increasingly highlighted in the media, it is not enough. Environmental issues are a frequent concern.

Often awareness comes when it is too late, for example, in the wake of a devastating landslide. Man-made environmental problems can be avoided through careful planning and sustainable practices. This can only be achieved if Malaysians at every level of society are more environmentally conscious. The long-term solution is to educate our children on the environment and increase their appreciation for nature.

EE has been sporadic and limited within the formal education system as it is not substantially incorporated into the national curriculum. When it is conducted, many EE activities do not go beyond school-based waste collection projects, paper recycling or cleaning campaigns.

Recommendation
WWF-Malaysia believes that educating children on environmental and conservation issues is vital as children are tomorrow’s leaders and resource users. In some cases, children can also influence parents and other community leaders. However, environmental knowledge alone is not enough for our children to adopt environmentally-friendly lifestyles. They need to be equipped with the relevant skills (to identify and anticipate environmental issues), positive attitudes, and be action-oriented.

Thus, opportunities must be given to students to nurture themselves as individuals or a group towards attaining the desired environmentally-friendly lifestyle. Through various constructive and practical experiences in school EE activities - such as identifying environmental issues, determining their impact on human beings and other lives, building possible solutions through consultation and networking - they would be more ready to develop a better and more sustainable future.