By Michel Outridge
THE Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC) have commenced a school-environment awareness campaign in primary schools in the city.Slated to be completed within a four-month period, the first phase, in which primary school pupils are to be educated on proper waste-management practices, commenced in October under the theme: ‘Put it in a Bin.’ The focus is to get students to inculcate the right attitude towards the environment.

Based on visits to the schools, an assessment would be done to determine if each school has adequate refuse receptacles. If needs be, the council would provide bins at no cost to the school.

The second phase would be done under the theme: ‘I am an agent of change.’ During that phase, the facilitators would seek to identify schools that have a problem with littering and a special project would be done in those schools.

A pilot project was launched with the students of the South Ruimveldt Primary School several years ago. That programme utilised an all-inclusive strategy which involved students, teachers and parents. Based on an assessment, the pilot project was deemed a success; therefore, it would be revisited and readjusted to meet the current needs of the schools that would be targeted.

The focus of this project is to transform the school environment into a litter-free one, and it is anticipated that the knowledge imparted to the children would be taken to their homes and respective communities to help bring the change that is needed.

Meanwhile, Town Clerk Royston King noted that littering has become so pervasive in the city that every means possible must be used to fight this scourge. King said the council intends to fight negative environmental attitudes on every front. The M&CC has pledged its support in educating and enforcing the laws on littering.