Pilot project to promote environmental education<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is designing a pilot project to carry out
\nenvironmental education in schools across Indonesia in a bid to
\nimprove students' awareness of the environment.<\/p>\n
Officials from the Ministry of National Education and the
\nOffice of the State Minister for the Environment are scheduled to
\nhold a meeting with UNESCO representatives later this month to
\ndiscuss the preparations for the project.<\/p>\n
The program will involve schools in Jakarta, Bandung and a
\nremote area to be named later, deputy state environment minister
\nfor environmental management Hoetomo said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The planned project follows a memorandum of understanding
\nsigned recently by State Minister for the Environment Rachmat
\nWitoelar and Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo to
\njoin forces to promote environmental education in schools and
\namong communities.<\/p>\n
\"This concrete action will consist of two steps: policy making
\ninvolving the environment and education ministries, and the
\nimplementation of a pilot project, with the support of UNESCO
\n(the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
\nOrganization),\" Hoetomo said.<\/p>\n
He said several non-governmental organizations and other
\nprivate agencies would be involved in the program.<\/p>\n
\"We have selected three candidates for our pilot project,
\nnamely the Lab School in Jakarta, Sekolah Alam (the Nature
\nSchool) in Bandung and a school in a remote area that we have yet
\nto decide on,\" he said, adding that the Lab School headmaster
\nArif Rahman will also represent UNESCO in running the pilot
\nproject.<\/p>\n
Hoetomo said the schools were chosen mainly based on location,
\nsince they would be more accessible and easier to manage and
\nsupervise.<\/p>\n
He said his ministry would suggest that all the subjects
\ncurrently taught in the schools adopt a certain environmental
\ncomponent.<\/p>\n
\"So, there will no specific subject on environmental issues
\ntaught in schools, but we will impart environmental awareness
\nthrough all existing subjects of study,\" he stressed.<\/p>\n
Hoetomo said that after the pilot project had been carried
\nout, a campaign to promote environmental issues among the public
\nwould be initiated involving the whole community.<\/p>\n
This, he added, aims at integrating the pilot project into
\nexisting community development projects, such as the family
\nwelfare education (PKK) program.<\/p>\n
The campaign would involve the private sector and non-
\ngovernmental organizations to promote positive attitudes among
\nthe communities toward the environment, Hoetomo said.<\/p>\n
He hopes that within the next five years, the environmental
\neducation program would improve people's awareness of the
\nimportance of health and of a clean environment.<\/p>\n
\"That not only means good tangible performance, but it also
\nshows a proper attitude,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that in this case, the media plays a significant role
\nin disseminating information on environmental issues. \"That does
\nnot mean that the media should report good news only; they may
\nreport bad news as well, but in a constructive manner.\" (004)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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