Environmental education has been introduced as compulsory subject at all levels of education from primary to graduate (college) level but often it remains as a neglected one. We hardly find any subject teacher in secondary, higher secondary schools and colleges. The very purpose has often been compromised. It is not possible for any (non-subject) teacher to impart lessons on environmental studies to the students properly. In colleges this subject remains in letters, not in spirits. Its presence can only be limited to celebration of World Environmental Day or plantation of some saplings. Environmental sensitization, awareness or beyond that real environmental education and environmental works cannot be possible through such studies. The subject itself cannot be prospered, not even the students of Environmental Science or Environmental Management cannot be moiovated and inspired to opt for those subject as carrier options if there remains ample scope for teachers/assistant professors' positions in schools and colleges..
Don't let the non interest affect yours. Some things take time. Compulsory studies just may not sound interesting or too difficult. Or maybe rules and regulations are too harsh and impractical. If new subject, it may take time to develop curriculum. But initial efforts of force-feeding may not be present the best way to develop interest. There ae many examples of how peoples have reviewed the past and taken steps to understand the problems and move forward to do better. Dr. Stanley Trimble wrote an excellent book on USA early farming efforts in the piedmont of South Carolina vicinity from 1700 to mid 1900s. It sometimes takes decades or generations for people to recognize their mistakes and change. I am not in my computer and do nt remember if I still have a digital copy of this book, that has been recently put out in new edition for purchase. I spent a good portion of my career addressing past mistakes that resulted in gullied, barren to low productivity lands with high sediment load streams. As a people, we have found better and more sustainable ways to farm, without damaging the land to the extent that moving away is the best option. Some are not interested in or challenged by science or environmental subjects. So it may be best to seek and build upon those that do, such as yourself, and instruct or assist those willing to learn. And don't get too concerned or upset that changes are not immediate, but hope for many desired changes in your career. I have seen many in mine.
I can not imagine this idea. Environmental education is not poor in India in my opinion.
True expression of the present status - Jayanta Kumar Biswas sir
This question should be addressed to the authorities of the Government of India that are tasked with responsibility for education, including the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Human Resource Development. It may be of interest to know that, coincidentally, UNESCO has just published Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives (2017) in recognition of the hard truth that "[e]mbarking on the path of sustainable development will require a profound transformation of how we think and act. To create a more sustainable world and to engage with sustainability-related issues as described in the SDGs, individuals must become sustainability change-makers. They require the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that empower them to contribute to sustainable development. Education, therefore, is crucial for the achievement of sustainable development."
UNESCO's excellent and timely publication identifies learning objectives across the SDGs as well as approaches to implementing learning for the SDGs through Education for Sustainable Development (the latter section deals with integrating ESD in policies, strategies, programs, curricula, textbooks, and teacher education; delivering ESD in the classroom and other learning settings; and assessing ESD learning outcomes and the quality of ESD programs. Some will now rightly ask about next steps so Churchill's wisdom comes to mind: "It is one thing to see the forward path and another to be able to take it. But it is better to have an ambitious plan than none at all."
I think it will become less neglected once businesses figure out that sustainability makes good commercial sense. The finance sector is factoring in risk from climate change even if governments aren't, and accounting bodies are also showing some good leadership. Ultimately, there will be pressure for universities to bring it into the mainstream curriculum, rather than simply have it as an add-on. I would predict that people investing in building their skills and knowledge of ESD will reap dividends in the near future.
https://medium.com/@jeremybwilliams/how-accountants-are-helping-to-save-the-world-25b9a4888079
No doubt environment education has been introduced as a compulsory subject in colleges and universities but majority of the higher education institutions are offering it as non credit paper and students are taking it so seriously.
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