Green building standard to be utilised in constructing climate-resilient schools
Published:Tuesday | October 22, 2024 | 12:06 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
The Ministry of Education and Youth has disclosed that it will be revising Jamaica’s school-building standard to make the infrastructure more climate resilient.
Addressing the University of Technology’s inaugural International Climate Change Conference last Thursday, Education Minister Fayval Williams said new schools, and those that are being upgraded, will be constructed using the green-building strategy to the extent that it can be incorporated.
The green-building strategy aims to enhance the sustainability of school buildings by implementing eco-friendly practices such as solar energy utilisation and water- conservation systems.
These measures also encourage environmental stewardship.
Williams noted that this approach would also involve the installation of air-conditioning units in some schools but stressed that in those instances, solar energy would be incorporated as a source of power.
“So far, stakeholder consultations have taken place, and we are in the process of implementing rainwater harvesting, exploring the global energy sources such as the use of solar power and examining ways to enhance energy efficiency,” she said.
In September last year, Williams announced the ministry’s intention to install air-conditioning (AC) units in 30 schools after The Gleaner highlighted how the heat associated with rising global temperatures has been affecting the teaching and learning process.
At the time, she shared that a company had been contracted to pilot a renewable energy project in 30 schools, but on Thursday, she said that the project was yet to get off the ground and that she had asked the National Education Trust to take charge of it.
EVERY EFFORT MATTERS
She is anticipating some progress by the end of the year.
“We should not be rolling into the new year not knowing where that project is,” she said.
However, stating that addressing the impact of climate change requires sustained time and effort, Williams stressed that “while it may take time, every action counts, and every effort matters”.
To this end, she noted that climate change education is included in the National Standards Curriculum as early as grade three, with a focus on the physical environment.
By the time students get to grade six, she said they are being introduced to climate change in more explicit ways, learning about its causes and consequences.
In high schools, she said students have the option to pursue subjects like green engineering and renewable energy, “designed to empower young people with the knowledge and skills they need to understand climate science, embrace sustainability practices, and think critically about the solutions to address these challenges”.
“Research shows that when students are equipped with knowledge about climate science and sustainability, they are more likely to make informed decisions, adapt green practices, and contribute to a more resilient society,” she said.
Emphasising that climate change must be tackled collaboratively, the minister expressed optimism about Jamaica’s efforts.
“I am encouraged when I see our own education stakeholders participating in international activities like the Climate Action Project now under way, with millions of other teachers and students from across the globe taking action, relying on creativity, empathy, and critical thinking in synchronous and asynchronous ways over the course of six weeks to work through real-world problems,” she said.