Much ground needs to be covered in the area of environment education say teachers at CSE's Green Educators' Knowledge Conclave

• Knowledge Conclave attended by around 100 teachers ended today

• Green Educators’ Network will help teachers in staying connected

• CSE’s environmental education programme reaches students in schools and colleges

• Students should help in mapping air and water pollution, said CSE DG Sunita Narain

• Important for students to understand politics around environment, says Narain

New Delhi, January 29: A number of teachers attending CSE’s Green Educators’ Knowledge Conclave said a lot of ground needed to be covered on the subject of environmental studies as a curriculum subject in Indian educational institutions. Around 100 teachers from universities and colleges from across India attended the Conclave. Some felt the subject was not adequately covered while others rued the lack of usable content to teach the students effectively. CSE has set up a teachers' network which will now work to strengthen the subject and its outreach and build students' and teachers' interest in it.

The Green Educators’ Network was launched on Thursday. CSE’s Director General Sunita Narain said, “It is the vital need of our times that young people understand the politics of environment as well as what they can do for it. I hope this network is keeping this community of educators vibrant and connected.”

She was speaking on the first of the two-day event. Educators from different parts of India, in addition to subject experts, are attending the Knowledge Conclave.

Narain said, “College students should monitor the environment – particularly air and water – and create maps which identify polluted areas.” The teachers, she said, will play the role of multipliers and help in getting knowledge on environment across to more and more students.

Green Educators’ Network
CSE’s Green Educators’ Network is a nationwide movement to build a committed network of colleges, faculty and young minds, to enable them to make informed choices on issues of environment and development of this country. It is also a platform for faculty and students to interact on key environmental concerns of today.

“We believe that the heart of learning is the connection between different stakeholders of the environment. Through this network, CSE will bring together these actors and the university community to interact with each other to foster a better understanding of the challenges that the environment faces today,” said Ranjita Menon, Director, Environment Education Unit of CSE.

The Green Educators’ Network is a platform where teachers will be given space to interact amongst themselves and with others who teach the subject. The Network aims to make the faculty teaching the subject aware of the developments on the science and politics of environmental issues.  “The aim is also to tap the intelligence of the professionals teaching environment to undergraduates so that the subject of environment comes alive in the classroom,” said Menon.

Learning at CSE
As part of the Environment Education Programme, students and teachers from schools and colleges visit CSE and see first-hand how CSE recycles its waste water, paper, plastic and catches rain water. At CSE, students also learn about solar energy, making compost and other CSE’s initiatives and campaigns. CSE also makes available a range of communication material, including films and books, to engage them. 

During vacations – both in summer and winter – CSE offers a niche summer course for students and young professionals from all streams to understand and critically evaluate issues that lie at the interface of environment and development – poverty, democracy, equity and justice.
 

For further information, please contact Anupam Srivastava, asrivastava@cseindia.org, 99100 93893