Schools to teach special ‘green’ skills in Kerala’s disaster-hit Wayanad

An official communication said that in the first phase the project will be implemented in 10 vocational higher secondary schools where students are studying agriculture and tourism as part of their programme. When confronted with climate change, resource depletion and pollution, students who have acquired green skills will be able to come up with practical solutions. Through these students, a society can be equipped to encourage sustainable solutions by reducing environmental impact.

The project is being implemented in Wayanad keeping in mind environmentally sensitive locations where natural disasters impact the ecosystem. As part of the scheme, students will be imparted courses with a focus on sustainability. A green skill enlightenment package is another highlight of the project, which will be launched this month itself.

Official sources said students acquiring green skills will significantly help in the sustainable development of the district and judicious exploitation of the natural resources. Green skill includes learning about ecosystems, climate change and interconnectedness of the environment. UNICEF has been promoting green skills with an eye on climate sustainability and resource-efficient society.

Last year, Wayanad experienced a massive natural disaster, with a landslide washing away whole villages and leaving 298 people killed. Experts have pointed to unscientific exploitation of the land as among the reasons for such a massive disaster.