School-age students eager to study environment
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Tearing themselves away from their video games and other forms of high-tech entertainment, a group of school-age children found time to learn some more traditional lessons.
The elementary school students, dressed in red and white uniforms, recently visited the Indonesia Environment Week exhibition at the Jakarta Convention Center, where they looked around and took part in the different activities on offer, including a seminar on the environment.
They were as enthusiastic about the art contest using recycled paper as they were about lining up for ice cream provided by the event organizer.
The exhibition, held in conjunction with World Environment Day on June 5, concluded on Sunday. The national commemoration of the day will climax on Monday, however, when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono presents Kalpataru awards to environmental champions during a ceremony at Bogor Palace.
The students said they learned a lot about the environment during a lesson introduced under the Jakarta City Environmental Education program.
"During the class, we were taught how to put out small or big fires," said Willy Pratama, 11, a student at Cipinang Besar 9 state elementary school in East Jakarta.
"In case of a large fire, we have to call the nearest fire station. If the fire is small, we can just pour sand to the flames."
Another student, Z. Ahmad, 12, said he learned about waste management during the exhibition.
One of the school's teachers, Endang, said her students attended a weekly one-hour class on the environment. The materials mostly concern simple tips on how to protect the environment.
"We tell them things related to efforts to protect the environment, including the clean river program, healthy dress and clean water storage. We also teach them by example," Endang said.
She said the environment was a tangible issue for the students, who live in a city that has to deal with pollution and natural disasters as a result of environmental damage.
Jakarta ranks among the most polluted cities in the world, mostly due to the growing number of vehicles in the city. There are two million private cars registered in the capital.
Much of Jakarta is prone to floods, which come every year. Efforts to cope with the problem have been hampered by residents' lack of awareness of environmental conservation.
In a bid to boost the environmental education of students, Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo and State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar signed on Friday a memorandum of understanding that will require their offices to prepare materials for environmental lesson and to train teachers to teach the subject.
The two ministers agreed that environmental knowledge should be transferred as early as possible to students.
An official said the program would be introduced nationwide next year, with the pilot project to begin in Jakarta.
"We are currently in the process of drafting the materials and familiarizing them to stakeholders, such as non-governmental organizations, teachers and government officials," deputy environmental minister for policy affairs Hoetomo said on Friday.
Due to financial constraints, he said the program would be rolled out only in certain areas. (004)