SOME scholars metaphorically refer to children as ‘empty chests of drawers’ which have space to pack just about anything and it better be valuable. Children learn the good and bad behaviour quickly in equal measure but the prayer is always that they learn all the good things.
The Holy Bible sums it all in Proverbs 22:6, which reads:
“Train up a child in the way they should go: And when they are old, they will not depart from it.”
Education is therefore an essential factor in the ever more urgent global fight against climate change. Knowledge regarding this phenomenon helps young people to understand and tackle the consequences of global warming, encourages them to change their behaviour and helps them to adapt to what is already a global emergency.
It is in this regard that we concur with Ndola District Commissioner Joseph Phiri, who has urged school managements to promote tree planting and nature conservation programmes for pupils.
The move is being encouraged to enable young learners to appreciate the value of natural resources and the need to preserve trees in the wake of climate change, whose effects are already being experienced.
This is as witnessed in the country, which experienced a dry spell which resulted in the destruction of rain-fed crops during the current farming season.
We welcome and agree with Mr Phiri’s timely observation and advice that there is need for school managements to enhance afforestation programmes for pupils, among other pragmatic measures, to effectively mitigate climate change.
He further asserts that private and public school managements should develop a policy to compel them to plant trees within their premises to help conserve nature and ultimately contribute to efforts of mitigating climate change.
Efforts such as these will help learners to be educated on the importance of nature at an early age for the significant benefit of communities and the country at large.
We also find it progressive and delightful that the Ministry of Education has included an aspect of environmental health in the new curriculum, which is yet to be implemented.
This broad-minded move as envisaged will undoubtedly effectively educate the learners on the importance of bio-diversity to humanity as the world intensifies efforts to mitigate climate change.
The effects of climate change have continued surfacing due to the high rate at which trees are being depleted by human activities, and this therefore calls for concerted efforts among all stakeholders, including children.
We are of the view that children should not be regarded as future leaders but should start learning and tightening their grip on the ‘leadership ropes’, including the mitigation of climate change through lessons on how to effectively tackle it.
It is indubitable that the cutting down of trees has led to disturbance of rainfall patterns resulting in low water levels in the rivers, which is serious, as water is life.
Ndola is privileged to host Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) offices and forests.
Schools can therefore lead by example and take advantage by lobbying for trees to plant.
ZAFFICO last year gave out over 55,000 seedlings for tree-planting activities to schools, churches and civil society organisations, among other community groups, according to company public relations manager Irene Chipili.
This generous offer and deliberate effort by ZAFFICO is commendable and will help young learners to actively engage in tree-planting exercises without impediment.
School managements can therefore tap into this goodwill by ZAFFICO and leverage tree-planting exercises and provide an example to others to get more learners involved in this important exercise to help save mother Earth from further warming.
Tree planting, among other pragmatic climate change mitigating measures, should not be left to Government alone, but requires a concerted effort by all stakeholders, including our school-going boys and girls whose knowledge, skills and attitude should be shaped holistically for a better country and world at large.
Train children in climate change mitigation measures
SOME scholars metaphorically refer to children as ‘empty chests of drawers’ which have space to pack just about anything and it better be valuable. Children learn the good and bad behaviour quickly in equal measure but the prayer is always that they learn all the good things.
The Holy Bible sums it all in Proverbs 22:6, which reads:
“Train up a child in the way they should go: And when they are old, they will not depart from it.”
Education is therefore an essential factor in the ever more urgent global fight against climate change. Knowledge regarding this phenomenon helps young people to understand and tackle the consequences of global warming, encourages them to change their behaviour and helps them to adapt to what is already a global emergency.
It is in this regard that we concur with Ndola District Commissioner Joseph Phiri, who has urged school managements to promote tree planting and nature conservation programmes for pupils.
The move is being encouraged to enable young learners to appreciate the value of natural resources and the need to preserve trees in the wake of climate change, whose effects are already being experienced.
This is as witnessed in the country, which experienced a dry spell which resulted in the destruction of rain-fed crops during the current farming season.
We welcome and agree with Mr Phiri’s timely observation and advice that there is need for school managements to enhance afforestation programmes for pupils, among other pragmatic measures, to effectively mitigate climate change.
He further asserts that private and public school managements should develop a policy to compel them to plant trees within their premises to help conserve nature and ultimately contribute to efforts of mitigating climate change.
Efforts such as these will help learners to be educated on the importance of nature at an early age for the significant benefit of communities and the country at large.
We also find it progressive and delightful that the Ministry of Education has included an aspect of environmental health in the new curriculum, which is yet to be implemented.
This broad-minded move as envisaged will undoubtedly effectively educate the learners on the importance of bio-diversity to humanity as the world intensifies efforts to mitigate climate change.
The effects of climate change have continued surfacing due to the high rate at which trees are being depleted by human activities, and this therefore calls for concerted efforts among all stakeholders, including children.
We are of the view that children should not be regarded as future leaders but should start learning and tightening their grip on the ‘leadership ropes’, including the mitigation of climate change through lessons on how to effectively tackle it.
It is indubitable that the cutting down of trees has led to disturbance of rainfall patterns resulting in low water levels in the rivers, which is serious, as water is life.
Ndola is privileged to host Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) offices and forests.
Schools can therefore lead by example and take advantage by lobbying for trees to plant.
ZAFFICO last year gave out over 55,000 seedlings for tree-planting activities to schools, churches and civil society organisations, among other community groups, according to company public relations manager Irene Chipili.
This generous offer and deliberate effort by ZAFFICO is commendable and will help young learners to actively engage in tree-planting exercises without impediment.
School managements can therefore tap into this goodwill by ZAFFICO and leverage tree-planting exercises and provide an example to others to get more learners involved in this important exercise to help save mother Earth from further warming.
Tree planting, among other pragmatic climate change mitigating measures, should not be left to Government alone, but requires a concerted effort by all stakeholders, including our school-going boys and girls whose knowledge, skills and attitude should be shaped holistically for a better country and world at large.