Alappuzha: Habitat Learning for students to understand nature
CERC resource persons will train and capacitate teachers to create an enriching experience for students.
Alappuzha: Habitat Learning, conceived by Community Environmental Resource Centre (CERC) of Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE, will be introduced in 10 schools in Kottayam and Alappuzha this academic year.
The pilot project beginning this month will help children know their habitat better. Project coordinator T.D. Jojo said the idea stemmed from the thought that the existing curriculum leaves them aloof from local environment and culture. The project targets 70 students from Class VI to IX in each school initially.
"The prime intention is to provide them with opportunities to reach out to local habitats. It seeks to integrate habitat learning with the formal education," he said.
"Currently, due to limited resources, CERC functions only in selected schools. We will revise this and target all schools eventually."
CERC resource persons will train and capacitate teachers to create an enriching experience for students to understand their habitats with the support of local governments. The CERC introduced Wetland on Wheels, covering 50 schools across the Kuttanad region, in November 2014, conducting documentary screenings and poster exhibitions.
Mr Jojo said the funding agency incorporated their suggestions to improve the overall ability of students to sense the direction, time and learn and analyse organisational complexities of their habitat.
