Environment, Khabisi Mosunkutu at the launch of the Environment Matters
Series
12 October 2007
Programme director
Our guests of honour, including leaders of political parties present
Representatives of school governing bodies, the principals, educators,
environmentalist, conservationists, non-governmental organisations and
community-based organisations
Members of the Gauteng Legislature
Mayors, members of various mayoral committees and councillors present
Heads of Gauteng departments
Head of Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment Dr Steven
Cornelius
Senior managers and officials from the department
Representatives
Invited guests
Ladies and gentlemen:
I am delighted to be among you today and to speak on the essence of this
event.
In the past, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and
Environment (GDACE) jointly with the Department of Education launched the
following books as part of our education and awareness creation to communities,
mostly learners. These were:
* books on animals and food
* foundation phase from Grade R to 3
* the intermediate phase from Grades 4 to 6
* the senior phase from Grade 7 to 9
Focus area of books
Today again jointly with the Department of Education, we are taking the
issues of environmental education and awareness forwards by focusing on the
following books that will be included in our school curriculum from next
year:
* preservation of water
* air pollution
Revised National Curriculum Statement
These books are
* developed in line with the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS)
* comprised of learner's books and educators' guides aimed at helping both the
educators and learners to explore issues in a way that stimulates debate about
the relationships between human beings and the environment
* developed in line with the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) as
adopted by the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).
Current challenges
* climate change's negative contribution of both domestic and industrial
activity on climate warming
* river cleaning campaign
Keeping rivers clean as a means to preserve water
* litter free campaign
* challenges of living in litter free societies
* the contribution of litter towards an unhealthy environment
* stopping sewerage spilling into our river systems
* Bontle ke Botho (BkB) - Greening and Clean Campaign
Conclusion:
This book will help:
* shape our commitment to responsible behaviour towards the
environment
* explore the underlying causes of the problem
* develop new ways of addressing those problems as informed by different
perspectives.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng
Provincial Government
12 October 2007
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gpg.gov.za/)
