Programme Director
CEO of SANParks: Dr David Mabunda
Representatives from the Department of Education
Distinguished guests
Educators and learners
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
I am indeed quite excited to have in our midst today learners from the various schools around Gauteng as we launch the Kudu Green School Initiative.
I think we all agree that the future of our environment lies in the ability of our youth to understand their local and global environments and the issues that impact negatively on our world. The sustainability of our natural environment and ecosystems can not only be left to existing legislation and policies; we also need to invest in the knowledge and development of our future leaders who will take the responsibility of advancing such policies.
It is quite commendable that SANParks has taken the initiative to expose learners in Gauteng to our wonderful natural and cultural heritage in national parks. It is true that the majority of urban based learners are rarely exposed to national parks or conservation issues. Most of them even start with their first job without having visited a single national park. It would also be very important to assist the participating schools in developing an understanding of environmental concepts and issues through a variety of school and community based environmental education activities. I also hope that these schools will in the near future set an example of how curriculum based environmental education activities can contribute towards dealing with environmental issues in their schools and surroundings.
I therefore make an appeal to all other interested partners like local government and municipalities to join forces with SANParks in ensuring that the implementation of this project is a success. I also wish to express my appreciation to the National Lotteries Board’s Trust Fund for making a significant contribution towards the success of the project and would therefore encourage that such funding be continued into the future in order to ensure the sustainability of the programme.
I am pleased to note that SANParks has, over the past few years of our developing democracy, focussed on extending access to national parks across the country to previously disadvantaged groups, including learners. The Department of Environmental Affairs has also taken this drive towards improving access for learners by providing the needed support to programmes such as the Kids in Parks Programme. In the past year alone over 150 000 learners benefited from a variety of national park based environmental learning activities including the Kids in Parks programme. It is important that learners are exposed to a variety of exciting environmental learning experiences that are linked to their school curriculum.
The Department of Environmental Affairs in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the environmental sector has recently undertaken an initiative to ensure that environmental learning is well articulated and recognised within the newly revised national curriculum statement for all grades.
As some of you would know, at this year’s People and Parks Conference, the Department of Environmental Affairs in partnership with the Department of Education, SANParks and Pick and Pay have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which ensures the extension of the Kids in Parks Programme for the benefit of many learners around our national parks across the country. I am glad to hear that we have received positive reports from learners, educators and community leaders about the positive impacts of the Kids in Parks Programme. It is my hope that the Kudu Green School initiative will add more value too.
According to a report done as part of the SANBI led, human capital for biodiversity strategy, the pool of school leavers on which the conservation and biodiversity sector can draw is severely limited (and racially skewed) by a number of factors. A very small percentage of the country’s youth are able to obtain the required marks in subjects that make them eligible for further study in the natural or even social sciences. As a result the environmental sector has to compete with other science and industrial sectors for a small pool of eligible youngsters.
To attract school leavers, the environmental sector depends heavily on them being aware of the field and holding environmental values. For many, school is the only opportunity for developing such awareness and values, and teachers play a key role, in either inspiring these values, or exposing learners to shaping experiences during schooling. It is also reported that Lecturers in the life sciences cite poor conceptual development, poor grasp of ecological concepts, and a view of environmental sciences as ‘general knowledge’.
An initiative like this one will therefore ensure that learners in urban environments are prepared for future careers in conservation and the natural sciences.
South Africa, as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has to fulfil certain obligations which includes amongst others promoting and cooperating in education, training and public awareness related to climate change. According to the South African National Climate Change Response Strategy; Climate change is a relatively new issue in South Africa due to the prior isolation of this country from international events. Education, training and public awareness thus lag behind the requisite standards. It is therefore imperative that public awareness on climate related issues is carried out by the department, South African Weather Services, SANParks, other entities and stakeholders. It is through education raising and awareness that we can get people to change their attitudes towards the environment as well as take an interest in the environment as a career.
The department is committed to continue engaging with the stakeholders and communities through various platforms on issues of environment. This includes public participation engagements, exhibitions, workshops, conferences, programmes aimed at youth and publications.
Finally, I wish all participating schools, learners and educators an exciting experience in the programme and would be happy to know more about the successes of the programme in the near future.
Thank you.
