New Delhi:  Educational methodologies based on participatory approach promote sharing of knowledge, experiences and reflections amongst the learners as well as educators. This has been considered significant for teaching and learning Environment Education. To facilitate and promote Education for Sustainable Development, it is vital to understand and share the perceptions and roles of all stakeholders. Keeping this as the base The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) organised the Third Environment Educators Conference, a 3-day conference themed “Participatory Approach towards Environment Education: Stakeholder’s Perception and Roles”.

The three day conference was attended by experts, corporate groups, policy and curriculum developers from across the nation who shared their thoughts and experiences with more than 300 teachers and students at the conference. The valedictory session of the conference was graced by Smt. D Purandeswari, Hon’ble Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Govt of India, Dr RK Pachauri, Director-General TERI, Prof G Ravindra, Director NCERT and Ms Ranjana Saikia, Director EEYS TERI, who gave a larger perspective and an international outlook to the 3-day deliberations at the conference.

Emphasising on the need to build such bridges of learning, Dr. R.K. Pachauri said, “It would be wonderful if teachers go beyond the regular pedagogy and actively involve in developing the school as a sustainable habitat. Climate change is only a symptom of a much larger problem — unsustainability. Students and teachers need to think about the poorest of the poor who get their daily needs from the ecosystem; they are most vulnerable as climate change will affect them the most. If teachers are empowered then clearly there would be a major multiplier effect in our society. We need to change the way we live and the way we develop our technologies to move towards the path of sustainability. ”

Lauding the efforts of TERI in the in playing a major role towards sensitising the youth, and the school fraternity towards issues related environment Smt. D Purandeswari said, “Environment issues and practicing environment education is now becoming an integral part of our school curriculum and this conference by TERI is a larger movement of educators where solutions to the dangers of climate change are discussed and made aware of. Today India needs development fast, but not at a cost that degrades environment and ecology. What is required is inclusive development. Teachers and schools need to be the torchbearers of inclusive development and sensitised children about the fine line between development and environment.”

Smt. Purandeswari also released “Charkha- Spinning Green Ideas”, a newsletter of the Environment Education and Youth Services division of TERI. The newsletter inspired by the values of Mahatma Gandhi, will strive to instil amongst schools and students, a sense of responsibility towards environment, ecology protection and encourage them to create out-of-the-box solutions to environmental problems.

This year the conference had sessions on how schools can address some of the critical environmental issues by integrating them creatively in their education process. A separate session on ‘green curriculum’ looked into the aspects of integration of environmental issues into the curriculum at all levels and in all regions of the country. Special group activity sessions were taken up focussing on linking Environment Education to classroom activities through various subjects.

The sessions on ‘Environment Education resources’ and ‘appreciating environment – role of eco clubs’ threw light on how various available resources such as print, electronic, etc. and formation of eco clubs has and can have an impact on learners and best practices in utilising these by the teachers. The conference also had a session that addressed the issues of training of educators in Environment Education and how universities could be roped in to further the process after schooling. Experts from the corporate sector had a special session on Environment Education as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and shared experiences from some of their CSR activities towards Environment Education.

The conference brought together stakeholders from school environs, ranging discussions on the environmental aspects of the processes linked with education. Throughout the event, school educators, guests and speakers will be given ample space and freedom to discuss their concerns, reflect on the issues, and think of innovative and creative ways to meet the goals of ‘Education for Sustainable Development’.

The conference in the past years has been endorsed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Department of Environment – Delhi Government, UNESCO, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, GTZ, NCERT and SCERT-Haryana, Tetrapak India Pvt. Ltd, DELL, Hewlett Packard India Pvt Ltd.

The main objectives of the conference were:

— To provide an interactive platform to the stakeholders in education to discuss the successful pathways for turning their schools green

— To seek participation of members of the government, academia, and policy makers

— To present replicable case studies from participants involved in Education for Sustainable Development

— To find a comprehensive solution to the adverse impacts of unsustainable lifestyle choices on the environment, with appropriate use of available resources and technology.

TERI recognised as RCE (Regional Centre of Expertise) by the UNU (United Nations University) is at the helm of affairs in environment education and awareness. Several of its projects and activities help in enriching the school curriculum to encompass real-world skills to make our students productive and useful members of professional workforce. It also sensitizes children from an early age on environment issues.