A green space at Măng Non II Kindergarten in HCM City’s District 10. — Photo www.sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY — HCM City is expanding the "green school model" at all educational levels as part of its effort to raise awareness about environmental protection through energy saving, recycling, and waste separation at source.

The city’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training began implementing the model in 2018-19 academic year.

Many teachers and students have responded enthusiastically to the model with good practices. The two departments in 2018 rewarded 28 schools for their outstanding results. Four collectives and five individuals in the education sector also received the 2018 Environmental Awards from the municipal People’s Committee.

For the 2019-20 academic year, an online competition on environmental protection was organised for 46,000 students from 63 schools in the city. Schools were encouraged to devise innovative solutions for environmental protection, integrate environmental education into the school curriculum, and create environmental protection activities such as painting contests and fashion design.

According to Nguyễn Thị Thanh Mỹ, deputy director of the Department of Natural Resources, environmental protection standards at schools include specific regulations and instructions on how to save electricity, water and natural resources.

The practices must ensure hygiene and environmental sanitation, effective solid waste management, green space development, energy-savings, and water saving.

The schools must give priority to making teaching aids from recyclable materials, limiting the use of plastic bags and disposable plastic products, and using environmentally-friendly materials.

They must also develop solutions to increase awareness among students about environmental issues with the aim of changing their habits and living behaviours.

"Green schools help to create a clean and safe environment, but also educate students about nature and environmental protection," Mỹ said.

“Among the school levels, primary school is an important foundation for forming children’s behaviours and attitudes,” she said.

If the students are equipped with knowledge about environmental protection, they would be the driving force in the efficient use of energy and would play the role of active communicators, influencing their family members, friends and community, she said. — VNS