To gain a deeper understanding of environmental education in Penang, apart from interacting with different environmental education organizations, we visited various local Eco-schools as well. One of them was SMK Kampung Kastam, a local secondary school. We appreciated the students' performances and explored the environmental actions in their classrooms. Through presentations by members of the Ecology Society, we learned about the eco-friendly creative products designed by the students. We gained a deeper understanding of the tips and feasibility of promoting comprehensive environmental education within campuses.
Sharing by Tiffany Cho (Senior Education Officer)
Thanks to the arrangements and coordination made by GREW, the environmental education organization in Penang, we had the opportunity to visit three local Eco-schools. One of these Eco-schools was the secondary school SMK Kampung Kastam. Through performing a play, as well as a dance act featuring the superhero “Green Giant” saving the Earth, students advocated the importance of protecting the environment. It demonstrated that the concept of environmental protection could be transformed into an artistic performance, matching students’ interests.
Then, the principal and teachers warmly guided us on a campus tour. There were plants in the classroom. The flowering pots were designed by students using eco-friendly materials, and students were responsible for taking care of the plants. What’s more, a recycling corner, equipped with several bins for sorting recyclables, was available in the classroom. If Hong Kong education could motivate students to think one step further for environmental protection, performing simple actions within the campus, it could certainly make a change.
Subsequent to the campus tour, we had a sharing session by the Ecology Society members. They introduced us to the school’s green policies and showcased creative products and artworks made by students employing environmentally friendly materials. During the sharing, the president of the Ecology Society said that he would be transiting for further studies. Nevertheless, he would be willing to continue promoting green initiatives at his new school. It highlighted the essence of environmental education — rather than passing down knowledge on a superficial level, the core value of environmental education was to foster people’s love for the environment. If individuals could love nature genuinely, they would be motivated to take action to protect the environment.
