Environmental Awareness Programs for Tehran’s Schoolchildren

A scheme to help raise environmental awareness among schoolchildren has so far been implemented in 15 schools in Tehran since the start of the school year (October 22).  The plan, dubbed “An Hour With a Park Ranger”, involves familiarizing students with basic environmental concepts in cooperation with park rangers, environmental experts, activists and academics.

All-female primary schools “Alghadir” and “Hazrat-e Zeinab” have pioneered the plan in the city’s District 9 by holding a session during which educational items were distributed among the students and a number of trees were planted in the school area in the presence of environmental activists, ISNA reported.

In an attempt to raise awareness among schoolchildren and their parents, the Department of Environment has signed agreements with education authorities to allocate certain hours to environmental programs. As part of the plan, the bells of over 20 schools in Tehran Province were rung by park rangers on the first day of the academic year.  Mohammad Hossein Bazgir, the head of Tehran’s DOE office, said a similar plan is also underway for teachers and parents of students.  Trips to protected areas and other natural sites for students and staff as well as events, such as the National Environment Week, are also on the agenda.

“Schools with remarkable performance with regard to environmental protection, such as effective management of energy and waste, especially in terms of conserving paper, expanding green spaces and running instructive programs, will be awarded the title Comprehensive Eco-Schools,” said Bazgir.