Ministries looking at introducing new environment subject in schools

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is working together with the Education Ministry to create a subject entirely dedicated to environment in schools.

Natural Resources and Environment deputy secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Azimuddin Bahari said this is because the ministry felt that there is a requirement of giving early education on environment which will teach students the importance of taking care of the environment.

"If we already engage the students at a very early age, they will appreciate the environment and take care of it.

"When we talk about environment, we are not only taking about rubbish or garbage, we are also talking about biodiversity, such as how to take care of wildlife," he said after the 'Connecting the Dots: Fighting Climate Change' forum here, today.

When asked how the subject would differ from the Science subject which is already taught in schools, he said the subject will give an 'overall' picture about environment.

"We have to try to get one subject as a standalone subject. The instruction of my minister is to go for a syllabus which is related to environment," he said.

Azimuddin said the discussion coming up with the subject only started this year and details about it are still sketchy at the moment.

He also admitted that even though the ministry is looking at introducing the subject from preschool to secondary students, it is it still reviewing the most appropriate age to introduce the subject.

Among the speakers at the forum, held in conjunction with the European Climate Diplomacy Week, include CETDEM's Executive Director Anthony Tan; Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel's director Anthony Wong; Taylor's University research fellow Dr Kannan Narayanan; and Cypark Resources Berhad's general manager Achmat Nadhrain Ibrahim.