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[tab title=”Introduction”]

Introduction

The role of Environmental Education in schools is to impart fundamental knowledge about the natural environment, and to build practical skills on how to study it, among students at all levels. Ultimately, the goal of all of our EE programs is to promote positive and lasting action that will enhance and ensure the conservation Bhutan’s exceptionally rich natural heritage.

Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, RSPN’s Environmental Education Program has developed an extensive network of Nature Clubs, covering more than 23% of the schools and colleges in the Kingdom. In addition to being a focal unit for environmental awareness among school and college students, the Nature Clubs have engaged local communities in a number of practical conservation activities, including studying and promoting solutions to local environmental issues.

In 2009, RSPN realized its goal of integrating and formalizing nature clubs within the school co-curricular programmes when the Ministry of Education announced all the schools in the country establish nature club and carry out conservation activity. RSPN also handed over 102 established nature clubs to the Ministry. It is now expected that the schools will conduct conservation activities on their own, however, it is still vital that agencies to provide materials and build the capacity of the teachers.

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[tab title=”Goals and Objectives”]

Goals and Objectives

Goal 

The goal of EE is to impart environmental education among the youth and raise awareness among citizens for promoting positive attitudes and sustainable actions in conserving Bhutan’s rich environmental heritage

Objectives:

  • Supplement formal learning on environment and support to develop curriculum and modules for environmental education
  • Raise environmental awareness among the youth and the citizen of Bhutan
  • Develop positive attitude by the citizens towards environment
  • Bring behavioural change among the citizen towards environment
  • Enhance school greening

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[tab title=”Issues to be Addressed”]

Issues to be Addressed

Owing to the low level of environmental awareness and education among the youth and the citizen have resulted in number of issues like improper waste management, low level civic sense for environmental action, natural resources management, and many more. RSPN’s active involvement at the grassroots and working closely with Ministry of Education in the establishment of school based nature clubs and assisting in the development of environment education curriculum and modules would bring positive changes.

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[tab title=”Outcomes”]

Outcomes

  • With support from Ministry of Education, RSPN could institutionalized nature club in all schools in Bhutan
  • Developed nature club activity and management handbooks
  • Developed Environmental Studies module for College of Education
  • Trained over 500 school teachers in managing nature club
  • Initiated conservation education for communities and monks
  • Produced Buddhism and Environment handbook
  • Produced Waste Management Manual
  • Produced Climate Change and Health handbook

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[tab title=”Project Partners”]

Project Partners

  • Ministry of Education
  • Schools
  • Communities
  • Monastic Institutions

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[tab title=”Activities”]

Activities

  • Build the capacity of teachers to efficiently manage nature club to bring positive changes in the local environment
  • Produce environment education materials for schools and communities
  • Continue assisting Ministry of Education and Royal University of Bhutan to develop Environmental Science and Environmental Studies program curricula.
  • Working on emerging environmental issues and reach out to people

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