The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), held a state-level training for Master Trainers on Greening Schools and Climate Change Education Intervention (GSCCEI), a collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in efforts to strengthen climate change education and promote sustainable environment practices among public primary schools across the state.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, represented by the State Director of UBEC, Mr. Joshua Arema, made an address during the event, stating that the purpose of the initiative is to incorporate environmental sustainability, climate change education, green skills, and climate-resilient practices into basic education.
Dr. Garba added that the programme is in line with the National Education Sector Renewal Initiative as well as Nigeria’s commitment to the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership.
According to her, the GSCCEI was designed through indepth deliberations with educational bodies, government agencies, climate experts among other stakeholders.
The entire process has created a stable guideline for the implementation of the GSCCEI across the country.Sge revealed that the Commission would utilize a web-based Monitoring and Evaluation Portal to provide real-time reporting and tracking of the intervention nationwide.
In the same vein, she the announced the appointment of the African Centre for Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development (ACEARD) as the National Technical Consultant to provide technical and implementation support for the initiative.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of LASUBEB, Dr. Hakeem Babatunde Shittu, represented by Board Member, Dr. Saheed Ibikunle, reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to ensuring a safe, healthy, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable learning environments for pupils across the state.
He pointed out initiatives such as tree planting, proper waste management, and other activities which promote safe and healthy school environments as ways that the Lagos State Government has provided unyielding support to environmental sustainability.
He then emphasized that the training would further strengthen education personnel to incorporate climate awareness and sustainable practices into the school system.
He tasked the Master Trainers, Education Secretaries, Directors, Desk Officers, School Managers, Teachers and other stakeholders with the adequate dispensary of the knowledge and skills acquired to teachers and other education stakeholders, adding that their role will be critical to the successful implementation of the initiative.
According to him, the training would provide participants with sustainable methods of environmental conservation, responsible waste management, efficient resource utilisation and climate change awareness, resulting in a greener, safer and more climate-resilient environment in public schools across Lagos.