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The following is issued on behalf of the Environmental Campaign Committee:
The Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) today (September 30) recognised 41 schools for their efforts in promoting environmental protection under the 11th Hong Kong Green School Award (HKGSA).
Waste reduction is regarded as crucial to Hong Kong's sustainable development and to further this aim the HKGSA promotes waste reduction and resource conservation to teachers, non-teaching staff, students and their families. "GO GREEN on Waste Management" was selected as the theme of this year's HKGSA.
Officiating at today's presentation ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre were the Permanent Secretary for the Environment/Director of Environmental Protection, Ms Anissa Wong; Chairman of the ECC, Mr Lam Chiu-ying; Principal Education Officer (Curriculum Development) of the Education Bureau, Mr Sheridan Lee; and Convenor of the ECC Education Working Group, Mr Hui Yung-chung. Representatives from co-organisers, including the Hong Kong Institute of Education and the Hong Kong Productivity Council, also joined the event.
The HKGSA has attracted participation from over 750 schools since it was launched in 2000. Award-winning schools have set a model as green leaders in the education sector and, more importantly, serve as a base in the community for spreading green messages from students to parents so as to induce behavioural changes and help achieve green living.
In the pre-school category, assessment was made according to four criteria, namely Environmental Infrastructure, Environmental Management, Environmental Education and Parents' Participation in Environmental Activities. This year, nine award-winning pre-schools among 86 entries were presented with cash prizes ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
The schools in the primary and secondary school categories underwent assessment according to four criteria, namely Environmental Policy and Campus Environment, Environmental Management Measures, Environmental Education Plan and Implementation, and Environmental Education Effectiveness. Each school meeting the benchmark scores in all four assessment criteria qualified as a Hong Kong Green School. This year, 18 primary schools and 14 secondary schools among a total of 103 entries received the title of Hong Kong Green School.
Under the partnership of the HKGSA and the Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE), schools receiving the Hong Kong Green School title will be referred to compete for HKAEE Sectoral Awards under the schools sector. At today's ceremony the winning schools of the 2012 HKAEE were awarded cash prizes ranging from $2,000 to $60,000.
The HKGSA, sponsored by the Environment and Conservation Fund, aims to encourage schools to formulate a school environmental policy and implement an environmental management plan, enhance environmental awareness and attitudes, and promote green practices among school managers, teachers, non-teaching staff, students and their families. Beginning with the eighth HKGSA, the award scheme forged a partnership with the HKAEE.
For more information about the HKGSA, please visit the ECC's Schools Go Green website at school.ecc.org.hk.
Ends/Monday, September 30, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:18
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