GIVING a green look to the environment is the priority of a primary school outside the capital.
Rampur Primary School at Nakaulevu, Navua is promoting environmental care among its students and has dedicated this week to environment week.
"This is a school-based program initiated by the teachers. The environment is important and precious to us and teaching the right management of it has to be passed to our children when they are young," said Jai Narayan, headteacher of the school.
"It is at the school where children learn not to litter and after the clean-up comes to an end this week, we will introduce a new system of If you don't drop, you don't pick' policy in school to encourage students to put their rubbish in the right place," Mr Narayan said. It was a delight to see students cleaning their school compound and planting flowers when The Fiji Times arrived at the school.
"I enjoy doing the cleaning, picking of rubbish and planting because I know keeping the environment clean is important. If it is clean, it will be free from diseases and sickness and help us live a healthy life," said Sheryl Singh of Class Six. Class Five Atunaisa Lacabuka said he enjoyed studying in a clean place.
As part of the event, students compete in quiz and poster competitions, prepare environment questions and answers and organised an oratory contest.
"We want proper environment management to be a live and learn style for the students." Mr Narayan said it was pleasing it see the attitude of the students was already improving.
He said the hope was to filter the information down at community level.
