Sustainable & low carbon practices at schools in Iskandar Malaysia

Abstract

In Malaysia, environmental education is not taught as a specific subject in the formal school curriculum; rather its general principles are embedded across the whole of the curriculum. Hence, informal education plays an important role in raising low carbon awareness. Schools in Malaysia organise various green projects but often these best practices were not shared nor recognised. This paper discusses the organising of a sustainable and low carbon schools exhibition. The objective of the exhibition is three-fold. First, from the research point of view, to understand green activities conducted at schools in Iskandar Malaysia; second to give recognition to schools that contributed to sustainable and low carbon Johor and third, to provide a platform for schools to showcase their effort and an opportunity to build network among them. This school exhibition was conducted for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016), inviting all primary and secondary schools to showcase their school effort in promoting sustainable and low carbon practices. For both years, 21 and 23 schools were accepted respectively into the exhibition after sending in their school profiles for preliminary screening. The profiles detailed the activities organised and participated by teachers, students and community around their school area. During the exhibition, each school presented one poster detailing their effort, followed by an oral presentation to a panel of judges. A group interview were conducted after the exhibition among committee members accompanying judges assessing school projects. Drawing data from these three sources (the school profiles, posters and group interview), several main themes of programmes emerged including 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle), Reducing CO2, Indirect Programmes and Low Carbon Education Programme. Some of these activities are able to generate income to sustain the activities themselves or support other school projects.