Schools have been urged to foster the schools greening programme for environmental conservation.

Dr Vincent Biruta, the Minister for Natural Resources, made the call yesterday during a meeting with decision makers and other stakeholders to discuss the future of the Schools Greening Programme in Kigali.

He said, "We want the Ministry of Education, districts and schools to foster the Schools Greening Programme to enable learners grow up with positive mentalities about environmental conservation. The pilot project has already covered 207 schools, but we need the Ministry of Education to take over the programme so that it can be spread to all the schools.”

Initiated in 2011 by Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), the Schools Greening Programme engages children in hands-on activities aimed at creating environmental friendly learning conditions at school.

The activities include; tree nursery making and tree planting, planting passparum and putting up sign posts with environmental conservation messages, hygiene and sanitation activities, activities related to resource efficiency and waste management, among others.

The programme was handed over to the Ministry of Education during yesterday’s meeting.

Coletha Ruhamya, the deputy director general of REMA, said promoting greening programmes in schools will contribute to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Looking at SDGs, more than 50 per cent of the goals are related to environment and climate change. Our education system has to proactively aim to give knowledge and skills to achieve the SDGs,” Ruhamya said.

The Schools Greening Programme integrates efforts to make schools healthier and get the whole school community to find solutions to environmental and sustainability problems, according to officials.

It seeks to empower children to make a difference, and teach them environmental and health values.

Furthermore, ‘green schools’ endeavours to extend learning beyond the classroom and help students develop responsible attitudes and commitment, both at home and in the wider community.

The educational activities developed for the programme enable teachers and students to take advantage of the school buildings systems, materials, and school activities for real-world, hands-on place-based learning.

Olivier Rwamukwaya, the Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education, said the ministry has incorporated greening in the rules and regulations of school construction, whereby elements like water harvesting system and school gardening are taken into consideration.

The idea behind greening schools programme is that environmental topics being studied in the classroom should influence the way the whole school operates, according to officials.

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