An Environmental Charter for Secondary Schools was launched, today at Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium in Réduit, by the Vice-Prime Minister (VPM), Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, and the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr Kavydass Ramano.
The Charter aims at instigating a shift in mindset within school communities, particularly among the youth, by promoting environmental best practices and instilling core environmental values conducive to responsible development and behaviour. It was developed by the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology.
In her keynote address, VPM Dookun-Luchoomun highlighted that the Charter is yet another milestone in environmental awareness while underscoring the need to prepare the next generation to find solutions and act proactively to shape a sustainable future for Mauritius. She p
ointed out that curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are successful in sensitising youngsters on environmental issues.
Speaking about the Charter, she underscored that it delineates a comprehensive range of environmentally conscious actions that students can undertake across three primary spheres: at home, at school, and within the community. These actions encompass energy conservation, biodiversity preservation, water management, waste reduction and recycling, sustainable consumption, and eco-friendly transportation, she said.
Moreover, she indicated that through the implementation of the Charter, not only students but also educators, support staff, families, and communities will be sensitised to the importance of environmental protection.
Recognising young people as the future stewards of the society, imbued with the potential to drive change and progress, Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun underlined that it is essential to empower them to actively contribute to the protection of our planet. Enco
uraging them to adopt sustainable lifestyles and practices in their homes, schools, youth organisations, and communities is pivotal in this endeavour, she added. According to her, collective efforts are needed especially to combat climate change.
She expressed her wish for the next generation to have a strong value system and to be one with nature. Environmental challenges are huge but small contributions by the youth will make a difference, she underlined. She further dwelt on the need to empower the youth to be eco-warriors and agents of change.
For his part, Minister Ramano recalled that environmental challenges have become increasingly pressing adding that climate change, the loss of biodiversity, the pollution of oceans and the management of natural resources are crucial issues that require immediate and concerted action. He therefore urged the society to act now to reverse the trend and create a sustainable future.
He observed that the Environmental Charter for Secondary Schools aims to guide and ins
pire secondary school students, teachers and school leaders to adopt environmentally-friendly practices at school, at home, and in the community, every day. The Charter, he reminded, is not simply a document or a list of recommendations but also expresses our collective commitment to help protect the environment, and our desire to pass on to future generations not only a cleaner world, but also values of respect and responsibility towards our planet.
He commended young people for being invaluable partners in making the ecological transition a reality and lauded their enthusiasm, energy, motivation and creativity which, he said, are indispensable assets in supporting the emergence of a new ecological transition paradigm.
Furthermore, Minister Ramano emphasised that Government has put in place an ambitious and coherent educational policy, designed to support the principles of environmental education and make inclusive sustainable development a reality.
He mentioned the mobile app ‘MoNatir’; the implementatio
n of a series of awareness-raising programmes through interactive activities based on an outdoor learning approach; and the development of a series of factsheets and videos on topics such as sustainable consumption, plastic pollution, protection of the ozone layer, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
The event was also marked by the launching of resource materials on the Environmental Charter and the symbolic handing over of resource materials to Zone Directors. Trailers on a video competition for secondary schools and on the Charter were also shown.
Source: Government of Mauritius