Punjab: A team of experts from Finland along with representatives from Punjab State Council of Science & Technology (PSCST) visited various government schools in the rural fringes of Amritsar last year to explore possibilities of collaboration in the field of sustainable practices and effective solid and liquid waste management. The visit was organised under the Green School Programme, an initiative of PSCST and School Education Department under which educational institutions undergo rigorous audit processes on six essential parameters of water, energy, livelihood, food, land and air to optimise resource management. This initiative, undertaken at the national level in collaboration with Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has recognised Punjab’s leadership in promoting environmental sustainability and awareness in schools. Punjab has 11,917 schools registered in the programme, of which 7,406 have completed environmental audits and 196 have received ‘Green School’ status this year. Of these, 171 are government schools and 25 are private institutions. PSCST Executive Director Pritpal Singh and Joint Director Kulbir Singh Batth received the award for the schools from noted environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk and Head of Centre for Science and Environment Sunita Narain. He said that sustainable improvements are being made in schools in Punjab. PSCST has transformed schools, increasing the number of ‘green schools’ from 70 in 2023-24 to 196 in 2024-25. PSCST Executive Director Pritpal Singh said, “We have set up 8,000 eco clubs in schools and colleges under the programme and allocated Rs 1 lakh per district for its implementation at the grassroots level through these clubs. Teachers in each district were given special training in sustainable practices and nodal officers were appointed. We are also running environmental education programmes in educational institutions.” The programme not only covers excellent schools but also senior secondary schools in rural border areas. For instance, the Government Senior Secondary School in Jabbowal has set up two compost units to recycle its dry organic waste and garden waste is used to make bricks. Four Schools of Eminence in the district have conducted water audits to curb wastage and have also set up plastic banks to collect single-use plastic for recycling. The Government Senior Secondary School in Kot Khalsa teaches vermicomposting, mulching and waste management as part of its curriculum. “The aim is to educate students about waste management so that they can treat waste at home. They have to practice sustainable lifestyles which means we have to make it a part of their lives and education. Many of our students work with the local village community at their own level by managing small organic farms and treating agricultural waste,” said Sanjeev Sharma, a teacher of business at GSSSS, Jabbowal, and environment counsellor for students. The team of students of Jabbowal School along with Sanjeev has also won the Wipro Earthian Award this year.
