XN000022-1996-05-15 — Page 22

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Reply:

Mr President,

Environmental education is a process concerned with understanding the environment, and developing skills and attitudes for participation in improving the quality of the environment. It is Government's policy to promote environmental education at all levels of school education. The aims, objectives and curricula of environmental education in schools have been set out clearly in the Guidelines on Environmental Education in Schools issued by the Education Department in 1992.

2. Government has adopted a cross-curricular approach in environmental education. Each subject area of the school curriculum focuses on and explores different aspects of human understanding and experience of the environment. At primary level, subjects incorporating elements of environmental education include Social Studies, Health Education, General Studies and Science. At secondary level, the relevant subjects include Geography, History, Economics and Public Affairs, Social Studies and science subjects.

3.

Let me explain how these different subject groups can help students acquire an understanding of our environment from different perspectives. For example, through science subjects, students acquire the skills of scientific investigation and an understanding of concepts related to the natural environment. Through humanities subjects, students learn about the interaction of man with his environment from historical, sociological, economic and geographical angles. Through Arts and Music students develop an aesthetic appreciation of the environment. Learning these subjects helps students achieve an all-round understanding of the environment and develops their own values towards environmental issues.

4. In addition to the formal curriculum, students can learn about the environment through extra-curricular activities. These can take the form of school based activities like discussion, debate or role play; or they can be in the form of out-door activities. like field trips or visits to an organic farm or polluted areas. Through these activities, students are exposed to real problems and can obtain first-hand experience of the environment, thereby increasing their concern for and appreciation of the environment.

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