6TH AFRICAN REGIONAL CENTRE OF EXPERTISE CONFERENCENairobi-Kenya

24th-26th August, 2016

Dr. Abdul HusainiCoordinator RCE Minna, Nigeria

ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: CHRONICLES OF RCE MINNA

‘GREEN SCHOOL INITIATIVE’

Introduction.

• The Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Minna was acknowledged in November, 2011 by the UNU-IAS.

2.

Introduction (cont’d).

• The centre has continued to operate within the context of the ESD four (4) major thrust that bothered on the promotion and improvement of basic education, Reorienting existing education at all levels to address sustainable development issues, Developing public understanding and awareness of sustainability, and training and retraining.

• These has formed the basis for the programmes and activities of the centre, such as sensitisation on the environment, youth empowerment, research and high school green initiative which is the focus of this presentation.

2.

• As part of RCE Minna’s effort to create awareness for sustainable environment, the centre has continue to organised and celebrate the ‘World Environment Day (WED)’ annually.

Project Background.3.

• The RCE Minna ‘Green School Initiative’ was aimed at providing seedlings to High School Students to plant in their schools. The project was aimed at engaging high school students in maintaining the seedlings, taking active role in sensitising their colleagues and community on tree planting and sustainable development. This initiative by RCE Minna hopes to improve the climatic condition of our schools by providing cool and serene learning environment.

3. Project Background (cont’d).

The Green School initiative

Project Objectives.

• In line with Goals 13 and 15 of the SDGs that hinged on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impact and protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss, the objectives of the ‘Green School Initiative’ was to create the desired awareness for action against climate change by young people through learning opportunities and paradigm shift for enhanced environmental sustainability.

4.

• “Humans and other animals rely on other forms of life on land for food, clean air, clean water, and as a means of combating climate change. Plant life makes up 80% of the human diet. Forests, which cover 30% of the Earth’s surface, help keep the air and water clean and the Earth’s climate in balance. That’s not to mention they’re home to millions of animal species. But the land and life on it are in trouble. Arable land is disappearing 30 to 35 times faster than it has historically. Deserts are spreading. Animal breeds are going extinct. We can turn these trends around….”, fortunately the RCE Minna ‘Green School Initiative’ aim to restore our environment and enhanced the gardening culture. (http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/brochure/SDGs_Booklet_Web_En.pdf ).

5. Project Justification.

• Prior to the 2016 WED celebration, a team was constituted by RCE Minna to carryout the inspection of seedlings distributed to the 10 pilot schools: – To report the number of seedlings that survive.– To ask the challenges faced by the student in

sustaining the seedlings.– To recommend ways of improving the initiative.

6. Project Implementation.

• Ten pilots schools were selected and sensitised on the need to revive the culture of gardening and sustainable environment in their schools at the 2015 WED . At least 10 seedlings were distributed to each school plant in their school premises. However, to reflect on our continuing efforts to recruit and integrate high school students in creating sustainable social change through rewards for excellence, RCE Minna pledged to provide incentives to the best performing school/student that sustained the seedlings to survive the next WED event.

7. Project Methodology.

8. Project Results and Findings50% of the schools are girls only schools.62.2% of the seedlings distributed survived. All the schools are facing the challenge of watering, protecting and maintaining the trees.Only 40% of the schools visited involve their students in maintaining the trees.Out of the 10 schools 40% have already created their RCE clubs with active members.All the schools are willing to provide a portion of land for the creation of RCE gardens.The visit has rekindled the interest and commitments of the schools to RCE activities.There was a general plea by all the schools for RCE Minna to assist with more resources such as protection for the seedlings planted; the training on the RCE Minna research on use of diapers, RCE jackets or T-shirts and any other benefits available.

9.Table showing the 10 Schools, number of Seedlings Distributed and those that survived.

Project Results and Findings

S/N NAME OF SCHOOLS NUMBER OF SEEDLINGS RECIEVED

NUMBER OF SEEDLINGS SURVIVED

PERCENTAGE (100%)

REMARKS

1 Ahmadu Bahago Secondary School

40 40 100 Excellent

2 Bosso Secondary School 10 4 40 Fair3 Government Girls

Secondary School10 1 10 Poor

4 Zarumai Model School None None None Not received5 Government Day Secondary

SchoolNone None None Not received

6 Government Secondary School

None None None Not received

7 Government Girls Day Secondary School

10 6 60 Very good

8 Maryam Babangida Girls Science College

10 5 50 Good

9 Women Day College, Minna None None None Not received

10 Day Secondary School Tunga

None None None Not received

10.Project Implementing Schools.

Maryam Babangida Girls Science College, Minna

Maryam Babangida Girls Science College, Minna

Project Implementing Schools (contd).10.

Bosso Secondary School, Minna

Project Implementing Schools (contd).10.

Bosso Secondary School, Minna

Project Implementing Schools (contd).10.

Zarumai Model School, Minna

Project Implementing Schools (contd).10.

Government Girls Secondary School, Minna

Project Implementing Schools (contd).10.

Project Implementing Schools (contd).

Government Girls Secondary School, Minna

10.

Government Day Secondary School, Minna

Project Implementing Schools (contd).10.

Government Girls Day Secondary School, Minna

Project Implementing Schools (contd).10.

Project Implementing Schools (contd).

Government Girls Day Secondary School, Minna

10.

Ahmadu Bahago Secondary School, Minna

Project Implementing Schools (contd).10.

Women Day College, Minna

Project Implementing Schools (contd).10.

Day Secondary School, Tunga, Minna

Project Implementing Schools (contd).10.

Government Secondary School, Minna

Project Implementing Schools (contd).10.

• There is no doubt that the need to involve young people in action against climate change is non-negotiable. Hence, the need to motivate them and provide them with opportunities for a sustainable living. At RCE Minna we promote better living and we are poise to continue to provide lifelong learning opportunities for our young people to achieve Education for Sustainable Development.

11.Conclusion

Abdul Husaini

Coordinator, RCE Minna

For further information:

abdulhusaini@yahoo.com,abdulhusaini2010@gmail.com

Or go to: www.rceminna.com.ng

Thank You