CB BureauIn an effort to make environment science an interesting subject and change the wide perception that it is a mere formality, Maharashtra’s environment ministry has introduced Environment Service Scheme (ESS) for high school students.
The new scheme, through excursions and trips, is expected to make the subject interesting. It will provide an opportunity for students to visit various sites wherein they can understand the significance of clean environment and how pollution is damaging the environment.
The scheme will be implemented in 12 districts, including Amravati and Yavatal, where pollution has been a major concern. The government had made environment science a compulsory subject in schools, but it was not being taken seriously by teachers and students.
Centre of Environment Education, a centre of excellence designated by the ministry of environment and forests, is the state-level institution that will be accountable for implementing the scheme. Teachers will also be trained for successful implementation of the scheme.
Environment science was included in the school syllabus in 1996 after the Supreme Court’s directive. However, the objective of the subject could not be realized because students did not take interest and teachers were not trained.