One Planet Academy, a digital portal was launched in Guwahati on Wednesday as a part of WWF-India’s initiative in partnership with Capgemini to create awareness in the area of environment and educate students and citizens through an interactive interface.
Leveraging the affinity of today’s learners towards technology, the website focuses on various environmental themes and is a digital hub for schools, teachers and students that brings under its ambit a digital training and resource centre. One Planet Academy is the first of its kind digital hub for environment education for schools, teachers, students and citizens. The OPA is designed to be a one stop destination for engaging not just students and teachers but also citizens to adopt green practices such that the environment isn’t harmed and indulge in sustainable practices. The website encourages schools to adopt green practices, offers project and activity ideas for the teachers, along with online training courses, and houses games, comics, interactive maps etc, for the students. The OPA, launched as a middle school programme in its first phase, will address these issues and make it a more hands-on and action oriented experience, inspiring children to think about issues around them and make responsible choices in their daily lives.
Archita Baruah Bhattacharyya, Coordinator, WWF India, Assam & Arunachal Pradesh State Office while welcoming the guests and participating schools spoke about the inception of the idea of One Planet Academy and the impact it will make in the field of environmental education. She also spoke about the 6 different themes- water, biodiversity, ecosystem, energy, pollution and climate change based on which various activities have been designed. The One Planet Academy is a unique resource portal for teachers and students, allowing them to access interesting and engaging educational material at the click of a button. The teacher section will provide ideas for projects and activities along with publications related to educating young learners about the environment. For students, the OPA is a fun virtual library, with informative e-books and stories, interactive games, films and competitions, which will help in deepening a sense of environmental consciousness. By operating as a dynamic web-based platform, the OPA will ensure easy and equal dissemination of resources amongst all the stakeholders across the country.”
The Guest of Honour during the launch was Preetam Saikia, Commissioner and Secretary- Elementary Education, Government of Assam. Saikia spoke on the impending crisis that one will have to face due to environmental damages and imbalance in the food chain. He also spoke about the need of shifting to sustainable living and encouraged minimizing waste. He emphasized the importance of Environmental Education as a major subject of today’s education system.
Other distinguished guests present were Mohan Chandra Malakar Former, PCCF Wildlife, Anil Goswami Former Principal Cotton College, Suranjana Senapati, ADC Kamrup (Metro) & OSD SEBA and Sachin P. Ranade from BNHS- Vulture Conservation. Also present in the event were the Principals of Suderashan Public School, Maharishi Vidya Mandir and St. Vivekananda English Academy apart from teachers and students from 15 schools of Guwahati.
Environment Education is the oldest programme of WWF-India and has been an integral part of its conservation efforts. As a part of the programme, WWF-India works with school students and teachers in more than 20 states across the country through initiatives such as the Nature Clubs of India, Wild Wisdom Quiz and Education for Sustainable Development. The programme aims to promote approaches that connect life with learning, and inspire critical thinking.
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