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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Serethea Clarke, deputy director in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology speaks to the students on behalf of the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology.
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NASSAU, The Bahamas – Bishop Michael Eldon High School earned two of the top prizes for its “Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: The Aquaponics Cycle” exhibit in the 2015 Earth Day Challenge. The Grand Bahama school received first and third place finishes in the competition jointly sponsored by Ferreira and Co. and the U.S. Embassy through a grant made possible by the Public Affairs Section.
Aquinas College promoted healthy lifestyles with “Renewable Energy” and finished second in the high school Science competition which was held on Wednesday, April 22nd at Paul H. Farquharson Conference Centre, Royal Bahamas Police Force headquarters. The theme for the competition was “It’s Our Turn to Lead.” Other participating schools were: St. John’s College, Prince Williams High School, Government High School, CR Walker Senior High School and NGM High School. In addition to completion of the projects, the students were required to defend them and determine if laws exist that encourage the activities included in their projects.
Students of Aquinas College demonstrate their exhibit.
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For its winning entry, Aquinas College received an all-expense paid weekend trip to the Island School in Eleuthera where they will participate in an exciting program focused on environmental protection and sustainability in June. All of the winners received Apple iPods.
In his keynote address, the Hon. Kenred Dorsett, Minister of Housing and the Environment called on teachers to place more attention on sensitizing students to the environment and creating ways in their lesson plans to develop skills and confidence in students to explore the outdoors and become good environmental stewards.
The Hon. Kenred Dorsett, Minister of Housing and the Environment, gives remarks at the 2015 Earth Day Challenge.
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Minister Dorsett told the students that they are never too young to lead – their peers, their schools, their community and their society. He made the following recommendations to them:
1. Write to the Ministry of the Environment and Housing and
a. state their solutions to climate change; and
b. their reasons why the Government should support the Paris Climate Treaty.
2. Organize a network to plant a native species garden at their school and in your community.
3. Lead a recycling drive at their school for glass, plastic and aluminum cans and collect money for their school for ‘Cans for Kids’;
A student of C.R. Walker High School talks gives a presentation on her group’s exhibit which represented fresh water resources, air pollution, noise pollution and energy.
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4. Conduct an energy audit and make recommendations to the principal on how the school can save money by saving energy.
5. Ask their principal to organize an eco-fair with businesses and environmental organizations in The Bahamas to help students learn more about the environment.
6. Lead a beach or park clean-up campaign.
7. Invite an Environmental Officer to talk about climate change, its importance to your school and how students can reduce their carbon footprint.
He advised that the Ministry of the Environment and Housing is looking for individuals to work with the government in sustainable use of the environment to propel the country forward.
“We have a number of competent officers who execute their jobs well and manage environmental projects effectively. However there are too few of them. The Ministry has been challenged to find competent officers to give capable support and assistance to help move project activities forward. Right now, The Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission, an advisory body to the government, needs competent environmental officers.
The Hon. Kenred Dorsett, Minister of Housing and the Environment, takes a look at the display of students of Bishop Michael Eldon High School.
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“Another agency in the Ministry, the Forestry Department, requires officers to assist in preserving and protecting the forest trees of The Bahamas. We need Bahamians who have studied the following areas: Natural Resources, Protection and Conservation of the Environment, Coral Reefs, Blue Holes and Natural History, Oil and Natural Gas Exploration, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development,” said Minister Dorsett.
He advised that the Government, under its National Scholarship Programme, provides financial support to students who wish to pursue environmental sciences at university level.
Consideration is given in the following areas: Conservation Management, Geographic Information Systems, and Marine studies.
Speaking on behalf of the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Acting Deputy Director of Education Curriculum and Instruction Serethea Clarke told the students that it is their time to lead a The Bahamas to adopt a culture that is environmentally friendly and seeks to preserve the islands’ natural resources; and environmental campaigns to ensure that they are able to positively influence their peers and adults to make smart environmental choices.
She said The Bahamas faces a myriad of environmental concerns and individuals must be informed of the risks of poor environmental practices as well as the benefits of prudent decisions regarding the environment.
“The land, sea and sky that we boast of, must be protected, not just for our major industry, but more importantly for the health and economic well-being of our citizens. We need to ensure that our air is clean and that our people are not inhaling toxins that are detrimental to their health; we must ensure that our land is clean to prevent the spread of infestation by animals that also pose a threat to our health. We must ensure that our waters are not contaminated so that our fishing industry which provides food, is not threatened,” said Ms. Clarke.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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