GEORGE TOWN – Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Union at Jalan Burma here has become the country’s first ecological civilisation school, running various green and nature sustainability projects.
SJKC Union principal Khaw Chiew Hong said the 94-year-old school had ran an ecological civilization programme since 2019, involving all 845 students.
“Since 2019, we have started planting various trees, vegetables, and running recycling projects, even when schools were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As a result, we have managed to grab more than 100kg of vegetables since 2019, where we sell all the crops to parents, and give them for free to the school canteen to be cooked,” she said when met by reporters today.
Earlier, the school officially launched the ecological civilization primary school programme, which was officiated by Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.
Khaw said the school planted more than 20 types of crops which were taken care of by Year 4, 5 and 6 students.
The crops include lemongrass, roselle, spinach, mulberry, and more. They are grown using conventional, hydroponic, and aquaponic cropping systems.
“When the school is closed, we also have an automated watering system, apart from being assisted by school security guards.
“The money from crops sold to parents went into the eco fund to upgrade and improve the needs of our crops,” she said.
During the teaching and learning process at home last year, Khaw added that the school also organised a programme to save electricity, water, and food that lasted for 21 days.
The programme, she said, received encouraging feedback from more than 300 students, and they were also excited to be among the individuals who love the environment.
“Although learning virtually, it does not break the spirit of teachers here to continue to inculcate the ecology of civilization in students, because we want this generation to always appreciate and conserve nature.” – The Vibes, April 12, 2022
