States must have climate education-centric curriculums

MUMBAI: The Government of Maharashtra has announced climate-centric courses for the classes from 1 to 8 that emphasizes on the ongoing climate crisis. The decision has been made under Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan to inculcate a sense of responsibility in students towards the planet.

This initiative is co-partnered by the All India Institute of Local Self-Government- Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies and UNICEF Maharashtra. The aforementioned curriculum will entail activity-based learning on conservation, solid waste management, water resources, and climate crisis. Currently, the students studying environmental courses are primarily focused on textbooks but this curriculum will provide them an opportunity to have a separate focus on the climate crisis.

Besides this, the state government aims at equipping teachers with the appropriate tools and training in environmental pedagogy. Maharashtra should be lauded for recognising children as equal contributors and stakeholders of the climate crisis. Other states must also follow the same trajectory with slight innovative nuances and devise their education plans.