Environmental education for children is increasingly becoming a specific target in the planning and development strategies in Vietnam. This summer, in Ho Chi Minh City, a class named “I live green” which is organized by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Vietnam with funding from European Union aims to train skills on environmental protection and climate change response.
* Integrating knowledge about nature and environment
Currently, in Vietnam, knowledge and skills related to environmental protection is not a school subject. Content of the issue is integrated in other subject. Therefore, it is not practical for students. Environmental education should be put into education ciriculum which will help them to maintain a regular habit.
In 2015, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Vietnam held a class on environmental protection skills in Hanoi and achieved some satisfactory results which made them aware and form habits of environmentally friendly behavior.
This year, AIT Vietnam opened another course in Ho Chi Minh City. According to Pham Thi Thuy Duong from the AIT Vietnam Project Development Department, AIT initially thought about the situation of few participation because summer is the time of extra class for children. But the number of enrollment quickly exceeded the allowable number of 30 students. It is obvious that the issue of environmental protection, living friendly with nature haveattract people’s attention and awareness.
*Behavior improvement
Class in Ho Chi Minh Cityis for children from 8 to 12 years old. In every lesson in the class "I live green" the children participated in the game, answered questions and discoveredby their own about nature surrounding. In addition, they will be able to experience their own experiences through toys, models and field trips.
Environmental pollution, climate change are abstract concepts, not be seen or handled so it is difficult to persuade children to care for the environment as well as behave in life. The way of living in harmony with nature and the awareness of environmental protection should be developed as the basic knowledge of social science in order to create habits, natural reflexes in behavior and daily activities.
Therefore, every lesson at AIT Vietnam focuses on a theme about daily activities of children such as eating, using school supplies, home appliances, traffic participation and shopping. The class integrates knowledge about nature and the environment. Under the guidance of experts from many fields (psychology, energy, transportation, food, health ...), the children will find out how to protect the environment and remember to do in reality.
Over the past time, there were many propaganda activities on environmental protection and wildlife. However, according to AIT Vietnam, it takes at least 3 months to develop a habit or change behaviors of the children.
AIT's course aims to form an unconditional, natural reflex for children. In contrast, the questions and ideas of the children also made the trainer think and improve the quality of training.
"It is not just education for children. We are also helping to improve the behavior of adults. Children are also good actors for environmental advocacy and supervision adults’behaviors. Becaue no parents want to "lose their face" so that they will try to maintain their civilized habitsas an example for children” said her.
