Green culture planted in schools

By Flora Chan

Since the Guidelines on Environmental Education were proposed by the Education Department, more and more schools are con- cerned about environmental education, and the Hong Kong Green School Award is one of the schemes promoting environmental education in schools.

The award is co-organised by the Environmental Campaign Committee, the Education Department and the Environmental Protection Department.

It aims to encourage schools to implement environmental policies, enhance awareness in environmental protection and foster environmentally friendly behaviour among all school members.

“Through the concept of green schools, students learn to be environmentally friendly citizens,” explained Mr. Lam Kwok Keung, senior curriculum development officer in the Education Department.

Baptist Rainbow Primary (A.M.) School was the champion of the first Green School Award in the primary section in 2000.

In the school, students are taught the importance and methods of environmental protection, said Mr. Benjamin Leung, the “green manager” of the school.

The school established the first Environmental Education Resources Centre for Primary Schools in Hong Kong and set up the School Environmental Task Force in 1998.

Apart from formal education, the school organised projects and extra-curricular activities on environmental education so as to enhance student enthusiasm.

Activities included a Putonghua competition on environmental protection and some exchange programmes.

“We visited Guangzhou Green Farm Natural Education Centre and other green schools in China,” said Mr. Leung.

For the senior section, Baptist Wing Lung Secondary School won the Green School Award in 2000.

The school prinicipal, Tam Yat Yuk, said that environmental education is a form of multi-discipline learning in which students learn to respect the environment and to widen their views on world issues.

The school established an Environmental Education Resources Centre that provides videotapes, CD-ROMs, specimens of animals, books and magazines.

Besides, both schools provide farms for students to cultivate crops.

“We try to make use of all room here to provide places for students to enjoy farming,” said Miss Ivy Hwang, the resources centre officer of Baptist Wing Lung Secondary School.

Students use organic fertilisers, such as bone meal of cows, to grow fruits and vegetables such as papayas and tomatoes.

In the students’ opinions, they have learnt more about the environment and plant cultivation.

Students can share the farm produce and bring it home, too.

“The vegetables grown by us are more delicious than those sold in the market,” said Dick Lam, a Form 2 student of Baptist Wing Lung Secondary School.

However, the schools faced many problems when launching these schemes.

To Baptist Rainbow Primary (A.M.) School, insufficient human resources and lack of financial support were obstacles, said Mr. Leung.

“Since teachers have their own work such as preparing lessons and correcting homework, it is hard for them to spend extra time and effort on it.

“Besides, teachers may not have sufficient knowledge of environmental education because it requires much professional knowledge in this field.”

In face of the problems, Baptist Wing Lung Secondary School employed a full-time officer for the resource centre.

“Insufficient funding is a problem. Luckily, our principal has been very supportive,” said Miss Hwang.

For funding, secondary and primary schools can get subsidies amounting to $2,500 and $2,000 respectively.

Schools can also apply for funding from other sources such as the Quality Education Fund, the Shell Better Environmental Award Scheme and the Caltex Green Fund.

To enhance teachers’ knowledge in environmental education, schools collect information from green groups.

Examples include Friends of the Earth, Green Power and Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden. All are green groups.

Actually, the Education Department has provided training courses to green schools.

All interviewees were satisfied with the results of environmental education.

Said Miss Hwang: “Students are keen on participating.

“The relationship between teachers and students has improved, too.” Mr. Lam agrees with Miss Hwang.

Said Mr. Lam: “Both teachers and students have a greater awareness of environmental protection.”

Throughout the year, the number of schools joining the scheme has increased from about 250 to more than 500.

Both Mr. Leung and Miss Hwang emphasised that green schools are the starting point in creating a green environment.

“Many people may focus on the facilities and the numbers of green schools,” said Miss Hwang.

“However, the concept of a green environment is the most important thing that the programme has brought out,” she said.

Mr. Leung agrees with Miss Hwang.

“I think the idea of a green school is not only making the school green, but also cultivating a green culture and an atmosphere in the community,” said he.