Environmental Education Resource Booklet launched

Fri, Dec 9. 2011

Soil conservation, water, forests, and renewable energy are some of the topics covered in an Environmental Education Resource Booklet produced by the Ministry of Health,{{more}} Wellness and the Environment, the Central Water and Sewage Authority (CWSA) and the Ministry of Education.

The Environmental Education Resource Booklet was officially handed over to Ministry of Education on Friday, December 2, 2011, at the Methodist Church Hall. The purpose of the Environmental Education Resource Booklet is to develop positive attitudes and appreciation for the environment.

Public Relations Officer of the CWSA Joan Ryan said that on a regular basis, schools have requested information on environmental matters, thus this led to the idea to produce the booklet. Ryan expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education and the Japanese Volunteers for technical assistance with the booklet.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment Cecil Mckie said the booklet represented six years of dedication and hard work. McKie said it is an important tool to educate the nation’s children, senior citizens, and persons in the Diaspora.

To show appreciation and gratitude to all the persons and organizations for their contribution to the successful completion of booklet, the Minister said they wil be recognized at the end of the year. McKie also urged Vincentians to embrace strategies for protecting and managing the environment.

The publishing of the Environmental Education Resource Booklet was made possible with funding from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). To this end, PAHO’s Representative Dr. Sally Edwards is impressed with the treatment of life skills education, reduction of risk factors, and disaster management in the Environmental Education Resource Booklet.

Senior Education Officer in the area of Curriculum Aldia Dyer was involved in the review process. Dyer said the Environmental Education Resource Booklet is a very resourceful document. Dyer hopes that teachers will study the booklet to maximize its usage in the curriculum.

In his overview of the Environmental Education Resource Booklet, Environmentalist Dr. Reynold Murray said the book is simply written, well laid out, and attractive. Dr. Murray added that the contributors did an excellent job. He also said science and education are about making people live better in their environment. Therefore, Murray told teachers that if they do not value the environment then they will not see the value in the book.

The Environmental Education Resource Booklet was pretested in the South Rivers and Lodge Village Primary schools and the North Union Secondary School. (API)