Teaching the young about nature

Schoolchildren watering a plant with a little bit of help from organisers during the launch at Rimba Ilmu in Universiti Malaya. — Photos: RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star

Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) is organising competitions to teach students to care for the environment.

The competitions are being organised for Kelab Pencinta Alam (KPA) members and sponsored by the Stella Rajendran Environmental Education Fund (Sreef).

Students can participate in drawing and infographic poster competitions for World Forestry Day, comic strip and essay competitions for World Environment Day, an upcycling competition for World Cleanup Day, and drawing and video creation competition for Migratory Shorebird Day.

The ongoing upcycling competition for World Cleanup Day, which has primary, secondary and Tamil school categories, has attracted 250 Tamil schools.

Students ranging from primary school to pre-university levels were present during the launch held at Rimba Ilmu in Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.

(From left) Yong, Paul, Mohamad Razif, Prof Abdul Latiff and Shanmugaraj launching the online competitions for schools.

Sreef was initiated following the death of MNS treasurer Dr Paul Rajendran’s wife Stella who researched and photographed birds in Malaysia.

She authored the book Malaysian Birds: A Glimpse.

Paul said, “Proceeds from the sale of this book as well as donations from family members were channelled to Sreef. The fund is managed by MNS.

“All the competitions have received very good response.”

In his speech, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Mohamad reminisced about his childhood when he played in a river that was pure and clean then.

“Regrettably, it is now heavily polluted.

“The duty to care for nature now has to be passed down to future generations,” he said.

Prof Abdul Latiff said subjects like geography, physics, biology and chemistry were important in learning to appreciate the environment.

“Education is the strongest weapon one can own (in the fight to save the environment),” he said.

Energy and Natural Resources Ministry energy, environment and climate change deputy secretary general Datuk Mohamad Razif Abd Mubin said a sense of responsibility for nature should be instilled from a young age.

“I hope that students will show interest in environmental conservation,” he said.

Negri Sembilan KPA coordinator Tee Lian Hong said environmental studies should be incorporated through different subjects in schools.

“In the meantime, these types of competitions will provide knowledge beyond the classroom.”

SMK Taman Selayang’s English teacher Ezlin Faizura Farid said the programme provided great exposure to students.

“They complement the usual geography coursework by offering our pre-university students practical experience,” said Ezlin.

Also at the launch were MNS executive director I.S. Shanmugaraj and Universiti Malaya senior lecturer Dr Yong Kien Thai.