JOIN USGarbage lessons to begin at school
In an attempt to address the glaring lack of awareness on waste segregation among the public, the State Government has decided to impart lessons right from school level.
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the Department of State Education, Research and Training (DSERT) will introduce ‘Solid Waste Management’ as a ‘co-curricular’ subject for Class IX and Class X students in all schools across the State from next academic year.
The co-curricular activity will be mandatorily implemented in government, BBMP as well as private management schools which are registered under the State Government syllabi.
The activity is slated to include practical knowledge of segregating garbage, theoretical explantation of disposal of waste in scientific manner, awareness on banning the use of plastic and also protecting surroundings from disposal of hazardous material.
Members of the Karnataka Text Book Society and DPI officials told Deccan Herald that since textbooks for next academic year are already being printed, awareness of garbage segregation and management will only be introduced as a co-curricular activity.
“While the lessons on garbage segregation have not been included in the textbooks this academic year, talks are going on to include them for 2014-15,” said Y T Gurumurthy, managing director of the Karnataka Text Book Society.
Mooted by BBMP
According to DPI officials, the issue of garbage segregation and waste management has been “pushed” by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike following the recent crisis which engulfed Bangalore. “The proposal was mooted by the BBMP. In fact, they were pushing for the topic to be included for generating awareness among children, who in turn will take the message to their family,” said a senior DPI officer.
Meanwhile, the BBMP is already in the process of providing separate booklets for students in their schools across the City. “The booklets will include important points required to spread awareness among citizen on Solid Waste Management. They will be provided from the coming academic year to all children in our schools,” said a Palike official.