EWS-WWF calls for greater environmental education ahead of school term

Abu Dhabi: Children will soon be heading back to the classroom and the Emirates Wildlife Society in association with the World Wildlife Fund (EWS-WWF) is calling on schools and students to focus their attention on environmental education. In a bid to sustain youth's interest in the conservation of the Earth and help preserve natural heritage, the organisation is bringing its popular online environmental education programme - Be'ati Watani (My Environment, My Country) - back to the schoolroom for the 2013-2014 academic year. The programme, designed to inspire a passion in young people about protecting the natural environment, comprises 8 levels, each focusing on different environmental concepts and challenges. At every level, students join animated characters Hamad and Ayesha to learn about UAE wildlife, tackling climate change and more. In the most recent level on climate change, Hamad learns of the role a small nation like the UAE can play in the bigger global problem and how it is responding to the challenge while learning about the individual actions we can all take to make a difference. Commenting on the need for environmental education from an early stage, Ajita Nayar, Education Manager at EWS-WWF said, "Environmental education is an important element of sustainable development, and we are calling on teachers to continue to support the implementation of this exciting and interactive programme across UAE schools. We believe that by helping children improve their knowledge about our natural environment, we are creating motivated individuals who are passionate about protecting our planet from an early age. Children who are taught good environmental habits continue these actions into adulthood, therefore having a positive impact on environmental conservation in the long term." In total, 54,500 UAE students took part in Be'ati Watani during the 2012-2013 academic year, which was rolled out across 200 schools and supported by more than 300 teachers. Endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Be'ati Watani is an online programme created by EWS-WWF with support from Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi and sponsored by Dolphin Energy. All aspects of the programme, including registration, testing, grading and obtaining certificates, are online. – Emirates News Agency, WAM