DENGKIL, Aug 25 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Environmental Exploration Programme is capable of producing a generation that is more open to appreciating the importance of flora and fauna in addition to having a long-term impact on the formation of a student’s character.
Deputy Director-General of Education (Policy and Curriculum) Datuk Pkharuddin Ghazali said that although MOE has abolished the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Penaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3) tests, MOE’s will continue to improve the education system through programmes outside the classroom.
“These children will be allowed to learn in a fun and meaningful way that is not confined to the classroom.
“For example, when there is a yearend test, students who have participated in a programme like this can produce the best essay through the experience gained,” he told Bernama and DidikTV after the second edition of the programme at Paya Indah Wetlands in Jalan Dengkil-Banting here today.
The programme organised by MOE in collaboration with Yayasan Didik Negara and FGV Holdings Berhad started at 9 am with the participation of 100 primary school students from four schools under the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) cluster in Selangor.
Pkharuddin said it was a pilot programme under the ‘Sekolahku Sejahtera: Cinta Alam’ initiative to bring students closer to flora and fauna.
He said he was told by the students that they had only seen animal habitats on television and that they had never fed or seen animals up close.
The students visited the terrapin and saltwater crocodile ponds and participated in the Explorace and fed animals such as hippos and porcupines, among others.
“They were very excited about today’s activities. Some had their first experience of feeding hippos and porcupines. In principle, the first experience will have a long-lasting impact on the students’ lives and they will appreciate the environment,” he said, adding that five more series of this programme will be implemented including in Sabah and Sarawak.
Meanwhile, a Year five student of Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Fajar, Kuala Kubu Baru Wan Nur Alia Wan Muhammad Farid, who has never set foot in an animal conversation centre or zoo before, expressed her joy at being able to witness animal behaviour up close.
“Just now I fed long beans to the terrapins and observed the saltwater crocodiles. It felt great,” she said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency