Environment Ministry to Begin Environmental Visits for School Children

Students from Barahona, Hato Mayor and La Vega will visit the Botanic Gardens, the Zoo and other institutions in an effort to increase environmental consciousness among school children.

Jaime David Fernández Mirabal urged students to protect the environment and natural resources of their schools and communities.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARENA) began the fourth Day of School Eco-Visits for Environmental Education and Recreation with the participation of some 300 7th and 8th grade students from the Barahona, Hato Mayor and La Vega schools.

Jaime David Fernández Mirabal urged students to protect the environment and natural resources of their schools and communities.

The School Eco-Visits Program is being implemented through the Education and Environmental Information Office with support from the Education Ministry. The program involves raising awareness among students by taking them to educational centers which form part of SEMARENA such as the National Botanic Gardens, the Dominican Zoo, the National Aquarium and the Museum of Natural History.

This program seeks to support the ongoing educational process in the schools and to help incorporate concrete elements in scholastic learning methods. Another goal is to give participating children incentives to become actively involved in the dynamic of environmental protection in their own schools and communities, said Minister Fernández Mirabal.

“The program is directed to schools where students are lacking in the economic and logistic means to become aware of, or directly involved in these specialized research programs and have never had the opportunity to visit these environmental and educational and recreational centers,” said the Environment Minister.

The School Eco-Visits for Environmental Education and Recreation program began in October 2008. This is the fourth part of the program and the first to be carried out in 2009. The groups will be accompanied by a teacher and a representative of the Parents, Teachers and Tutors Association on each of their visits. They will receive educational material which can be reproduced for use in the classroom.

The activity has the backing of other educational institutions and professionals including Marta Pérez, Deputy Minister of Environmental Education and Elsa Vitalia Lara, Director General of Private Educational Institutions, among other specialized technicians from organizations involved in the educational programs developed by SEMAREMA.

Jaime David Fernández Mirabal, Minister of Environment, talks to children participating in the fourth meeting of the School Eco-Visits. Other environment authorities are present including the Minister of Education. PHOTO: Milton González