Sikkim schools lead the way for sustainable development

One of the major issues concerning humans today is protection of the environment. Two schools in Sikkim are leading the way by incorporating environmental activities in their curriculum with the aim of educating students about the need to protect and conserve nature for better sustainability.

Sikkim's Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has repeatedly stressed on the need to protect and conserve nature for better sustainability, and various schools are now taking up environmental activities.

The Bongten Government School has undertaken several green initiatives to maintain balanced ecology and biodiversity.

The school was conferred with two awards- Sustainability and Biodiversity by WIPRO at Bangalore in February and TN Khoshoo Earthian award 2015.

Apart from the daily curriculum, sanitation programmes and other initiatives are being implemented in schools to create awareness among students.

The schools also carry out comprehensive evaluation to monitor the progress of such programmes in schools.

"This is the first time that CCTV cameras have been installed in a government school in Sikkim. We have received the State Green School Award and several awards which are really appreciable. The school also provides mid-day meals to the students," said N.K Karki, Principal of Bongten School.

The Government Senior Secondary School in Hee Yangthang, located 40 kilometers from the Geyzing town, has established itself as a renowned centre of education and ranks among the best schools in the entire western region.

Various activities have been undertaken by the school, including bee farming, gardening, small cattle farm, vegetable farm and others, with the aim to provide practical knowledge about different ways of farming.

The school was awarded the prestigious 'Paryavaran Mitra Puraskar, 2015' in an Exemplar School category for its contributions to sustainable development.

The school has also been conferred with the 'State Green Schools Award, 2015'.

"To manage these waste products, our children are engaged in various activities for better utilization. Nowadays people burn tyres and use it for camp fires, especially during New Year celebrations. So, this is very hazardous and injurious to health. It is damaging our biodiversity and environment. So, we are looking for ways to use waste products like tyres in making tables and chairs etc. It is durable also," said N D Rai, Principal of Hee Yangthang School.