Greening Them Young

  • Barnali Dutta / FG
  • India
  • Jan 16, 2015


Photo: Prakhar Pandey

The success of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), better known as the Rio Earth Summit, in 1992 ushered a new ethos of awareness on the need to preserve the world’s ecological balance. In India, the Tatas had already taken a lead in this direction way back in 1974, by founding the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), to conduct extensive studies and research in energy conservation and environmental protection. This renowned institution is now named The Energy Research Institute. Its Director, Dr. R K Pachauri, who was a key member of IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), was awarded the Noble Peace Prize jointly with the former US Vice President Al Gore. Over the years, TERI has also been strongly advocating that industries and Commercial establishments should take up the cause of environmental protection as an eternal social commitment. Construction of Green Buildings is just an example. TERI has now made a fruitful foray in the academic sphere, by taking up an initiative to promote scientific education.  On January 8, Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, formally inaugurated the TERI venture,Prakriti – a holistic ecological school that would herald eco-friendly education in Gurgaon. The School will start functioning from April this year and impart to its students the essence of caring for Mother Nature. Prakriti will be a K-12 (Kindergarten to XII standard) school. Each child will plant a seed and also be the guardian of that plant till the end of his or her school term. Another highlight of this school is the concept of  Green Projects, in which students will be actively involved in 18 theme-based assignments.  will be academically taught in varying levels of difficulty, as per the ages of the students. emphasis will be laid on activities related to geography – which would include a study of soils, forests, sanctuaries, reserves and other natural resources. Each classroom would be provided with maps of India and the World, besides a globe, for the better understanding and wider learning of climate across the Earth. The School management wants to  encourage the concept of ‘have fun as you learn’. The curriculum will include regular Nature walks, and a study of flowers, shrubs and trees, besides providing knowledge on herbs. The children will also be initiated into sustainable practices, such as using separate bins for dry & wet waste, switching off the lights when not in use, and discarding use of polythene bags. To deeply inculcate such sustainable behaviour in every child, the School will acknowledge and reward good practices on a regular basis. 

Human beings are nurtured by Nature. Thus, even toddlers will be helped to learn how to protect every bit of their environment. “Our school’s basis is eco-friendliness. We will teach all children the sustainable way of living,” says Lata Vaidyanathan, Director of Prakriti. She says that Prakriti is the only school in the entire NCR that has 100 acres of land - and thus offers abundant opportunity for the students to nurture Nature and to play to their hearts’ content. The School will start with a facility that houses classes up to the third standard. Thereafter it will expand on a gradual basis. “While the School will devise an innovative way of teaching, it will nevertheless follow CBSE rules,” says Ms Vaidyanathan. The newest brainchild of TERI has not been launched to merely be different; there is clearly a well thought out philosophy behind establishing such an institution of learning. “We believe that, to change society, we need to especially target the young. Children need to be nurtured with an eye on our desired future,” the Director says, and adds, “I am in this profession for the last 25 years, and being a part of this project has been like a dream come true. TERI’s responsibility towards society will be very visible through the School. Our students will plant trees, while learning how to maintain Mother Earth.”  The School management has a long term view on the education policy that the country should adopt. “It is important that schools and teachers sensitise students on issues such as climate change and carbon footprint, the effective utilization of natural resources, and the benefits of renewable energy…and make them responsible citizens by managing waste from a  very young age,” says the Director. Echoing the Nobel laureate R K Pachauri’s vision, she adds that the protection of the environment and respect for Nature is a matter of values and knowledge, and these aspects must form an integral part of all the subjects that we learn in any school. “These changes can be brought about only if there is a change of ‘climate’ within us,” she states. The School will also try to address some other serious issues in the current education system – one important issue is that of drop-outs (especially in small towns and among the underprivileged). To lessen the burden of academics and raise the level of interest among students, Prakriti would seek to adequately focus on vocational training. “We will definitely give a lot of importance to the development of skills,” says Ms Vaidyanathan.  The School will also have experienced counsellors, who will help look after the kids as also offer advice to teachers. This new green yet modern school is set to make a difference to the quality of education in the Millennium City.

Read More...


  • print
  • comnt
  • share

News from Communities

lowadd
  • Friday Gurgaon Seminar

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2014/8/2014_8$thumbimg129_Aug_2014_160822730.jpgOrange Fish
  • Gurgaon Speaks Up-Rest in Peace ''Damini''-Saturday Dec 29 @ Leisure Valley

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2013/1/2013_1$thumbimg104_Jan_2013_143656130.jpgOrange Fish
  • Genesis Foundation Fund Raiser

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/8/2012_8$thumbimg114_Aug_2012_091411630.jpgOrange Fish
  • Coca Cola Cricket trophy played in Gurgaon

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/3/2012_3$thumbimg117_Mar_2012_180857977.jpgOrange Fish
  • Union Budget 2012

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/3/2012_3$thumbimg116_Mar_2012_123404760.jpgOrange Fish
  • Union Budget 2012

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/3/2012_3$thumbimg116_Mar_2012_122004320.jpgOrange Fish
  • Renge Art Walk

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/3/2012_3$thumbimg102_Mar_2012_095312690.jpgOrange Fish
  • Friday Gurgaon Cricket team

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/2/2012_2$thumbimg119_Feb_2012_195202840.jpgOrange Fish
  • Genesis Fundraiser Gurgaon

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/1/2012_1$thumbimg129_Jan_2012_072409630.jpgOrange Fish
  • Gurgaon

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/1/2012_1$thumbimg102_Jan_2012_165747220.jpgOrange Fish

Latest Issue

Poll

Do you think government should reconsider its policy of promoting liquor vends in Gurgaon?



votebox View Results