This is a proven fact that present education system is examination oriented system. This system is making child a bookworm; without inculcating any practical knowledge. The Government has already introduced ‘Environment’ as a compulsory subject. This was expected to sensitize small children to environmental issues and also to provide practical knowledge to them. Unfortunately, environment has also become exam oriented subject just like any other subject. Considering this, the School of Environment took birth. This is an innovative and unique concept; a school without roof & walls as well as no books and bags. There are neither studies/ homework nor examinations. This is an informal school. The children can attend their regular school and join this school of environment only on Sundays and holidays. The syllabus is designed according to the ability of children to understand. The emphasis is laid on project training instead of traditional text book teaching .Audio-Visual aids help to make the learning enjoyable. This experience based on teaching includes visit to forest, river, hills-side, fields, dams etc., so that the children can have direct dialogue with nature. Now we redesign the syllabus based on special environment days declared by United Nations like World Environment Day, World Water Day, World Earth Day, World Ozone Day etc. We celebrate these special days in innovative ways which create significant impact among the children.
We believe that the Nation’s future is being shaped not only within the four walls of the school, but also in the company of nature with firm belief that the “Nature is the Great teacher”. ‘Catch them young’, if we can spread the message of the protection of environment in the heart of young children, they will definitely spread this message in their family and surrounding areas. We can shape the young children with the constructive & positive approach to the protection of earth. It is our first-hand experience that the children seriously follow our instructions like: plantation & preservation of trees, minimum use of water & energy, avoiding uses of carry bags of plastics, etc. they not only follow; but also try to convince other people positively. In this context, to bring children closer to the environment in very innovative way, we required institutional set-up, and thus got ultimate reason for innovative School of Environment. Our team plans to teach in such an innovative manner that children get involved in the process of learning physically, mentally and intellectually .The purposeful and fruitful involvement motivates us to follow child centred, activity based, concept oriented and joyful teaching in and out of the class room. Children are encouraged to receive, act, react and interact on what way listen to and learn from… The syllabus of School of Environment is based on special environment days declared by United Nations as well as Indian Festivals and cultures. We have been organizing special campaign during the Diwali and Ganesh festival. We are aware that highest pollution takes place during these festivals. As a part of syllabus, we motivate children for minimizing noise pollution, Water pollution during Ganesh festival in September, we also motivate them to reduce bursting of crackers during Diwali in October- November. We also have been presenting awards to the Ganesh Mandals for celebrating Eco-friendly Ganesh Festivals. There are five criteria’s for giving awards..
This campaign creates significant impact among the society; we have been receiving tremendous response from children, Mandals, and whole society. Our team has been collecting Nirmalaya (Wastage during Ganesh Festival) at Mehrun lake as well as Girna & Tapi river for controlling Water pollution but People generally avoid to handover this Nirmalaya to us. It is very difficult to convince them, as we are continuously taking efforts people are slowly responding. This year we collected 12 tones of Nirmalaya and handed over to R.C.Bafna Gau-Anusandhan Kendra for preparing Manure out of it. We also promotes to celebrate HOLI by natural colours instead of chemical. This is the voluntary effort to educate not only the children but to educate any age group on Environmental concern. We are taking continuous efforts to educate people through innovative ways like Field visits, Nature camp, Nature walk, film festivals, Audio visual lectures of Environmental experts and scientists, Special interaction with voluntary social activists, cultural programmes, organizing Nisarg Mela (Fair), Film Festival etc.