Environmental education to be introduced as subject by 2019

IPOH: Environmental education is expected to be introduced as a subject in schools and universities by 2019, says Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He said the proposal paper on the matter was expected to be completed by the end of this year before being tabled to the Cabinet early next year.
"My ministry headed by the deputy secretary-general is in talks with top officials of the Education Ministry. The reception from the Education Ministry has been very positive," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after the Asean Dialogue session at the Pangkor International Development Dialogue (PIDD) 2017, here, today.
The two-day dialogue beginning yesterday themed "Driving the Future: Innovative Path Towards Sustainable Development", was organised by the Darul Ridzuan Institute (IDR) .
Wan Junaidi said the decision whether the subject, when implemented in 2019, would be made compulsory or not, would be further discussed with the Education Ministry.
"We will also discuss with the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water on what can be included in the syllabus," he said.
The minister said the environmental education syllabus would also be introduced at the kindergarten level in the form of books or brochures to expose the new generation to the importance of loving, preserving and conserving the environment.
At the dialogue session, Wan Junaidi said Asean countries needed to protect the forests.
"In Malaysia, we have several forests in Sabah, Perak, and Langkawi that attract tourists from afar and near. If the forests are destroyed, tourism activities will also be affected," he said. — Bernama