Local school lack green policies

Education begins at school, but where does environmental education begin when none of the national policies are being implemented in our local schools?

National policies do exist, even if they are not very well known. Our Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism actually names ‘Empowerment and Environmental Education’ as one of its seven strategic goals. There is even a ‘Revised National Curriculum Statement for Grades R-9’ that focuses on promoting ethics and the environment as well as respect for the environment and keeping it healthy. Then there is the ‘Environmental Education Curriculum Initiative (EECI)’ that promotes the ‘School Environmental Policy and Management Plan’ to help schools adapt to curricular changes and integrate their activities to incorporate more environmental education in their curriculum. Yet, despite all these policies, there is barely a trace of environmental education in local schools and certainly no formal policies being enforced.

Schools like St Andrew’s College and The Diocesan School for Girls mention outdoor education plans in their policies but only St Andrew’s College actually talks about learning about the environment and respecting it. Some subjects in some schools incorporate the topic into their work but, generally, environmental education is just not being taught.

A few extra-mural clubs and societies have taken up this concern. At Mary Waters High School, their Eden Environmental Club teaches pupils about the environment and how to keep it clean. PJ Olivier school helps to keep Grey Dam clean while Nombulelo High School has a club where they hike and teach one another more about the environment.

How much does the state of our environment have to degrade before we start enforcing these policies?