NEP-2020: School rule book places special emphasis on green and clean campus

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The School Rule Book, prepared in sync with NEP-2020 (National Education Policy-2020) and approved by the State Cabinet recently, has laid much emphasis on a green and clean school campus.

The rule book has spelled out in no uncertain terms that a green environment not only keeps the air clean with sufficient oxygen but also soothes the eyes and fills people's hearts and minds with fresh and positive vibes.

In order to ensure a green school campus, the Rule Book has prescribed the following set of rules for the schools to follow:

Every school must maintain a flower garden with perennial and seasonal flowers.

Every school must plant as many plantations as possible, subject to the availability of land. Three categories of plants-avenue trees, fruit-bearing trees, and trees of economic importance-should be planted. It is to be noted that in addition to social forestry, the Assam Government has adopted an agroforestry policy, and schools should liaise with the Forest Department and plant trees on the school campus.

The Rule Book has advised schools to develop a nursery jointly with the forest and P&RD departments.

It is the responsibility of all stakeholders, like teachers, students, guardians, and the community at large, to keep a school campus clean and green throughout the year. To make this happen, the rule book has prescribed a set of rules for every school to follow:

(i) A boundary wall or fence should protect the school campus. SMC/SMDC must see that at least a bamboo fence is erected with funds provided under the School Grant or with the assistance of Vidyanjali or the Alumni Association.

(ii) The school campus should be a single-use plastic-free zone, and teachers and students are required to bring drinking water bottles if filtered potable water is not available in the school.

(iii) All schools are required to have separate boys' and girls' toilets. If toilets are not available, SMC/SMDC must put them on the top priority list and take steps to construct the toilets within one year. Apart from reporting to SSA, schools are advised to approach local PRIs, Autonomous councils, MLAs, and MPs for funding or appeal for contributions through Vidyanjali.

(iv) All schools are required to have a clean water source, preferably a tap water supply system. Almost all schools in rural areas are covered under the Jal Jeevan scheme. Mission (JJM) for safe drinking water Now it's the responsibility of the school to maintain it properly. The filter should be cleaned or washed regularly.

(v) Teachers should strictly follow the practice of flushing the toilet after use and repeatedly instruct the students during morning assembly to flush the toilets after use.

(vi) The non-availability of tap water cannot be an excuse. Any school receiving Government grants can at least install a shallow tube well and make water available.

(vii) Teachers should repeatedly sensitize the students about the importance of hand washing and ensure that every student develops the habit of washing hands before and after taking food, after using the toilet, and after participating in any cleaning job.

(viii) All schools should have garbage or waste segregation bins in green, yellow, and blue.Teachers will teach the students about the segregation of waste at the source and how to dispose of it.

(ix) All schools should have a compost pit or tank in the backyard. No one in a school will litter anything on campus. Whoever sees or finds litter must pick it up and put it in the appropriate trash can.

(x) The class teacher and the class captain will lead the students of a class to keep the classroom neat and clean. They will divide the students of a class into six groups and assign each group a day in the week to clean the classroom. The assigned group will arrive at the classroom 15 minutes before the first class and clean the room. Then they will wash their hands and join the class.

(xi) To keep the campus clean, the head teacher, in consultation with the class teachers, will assign a day to a class or section for cleanliness. The students of the class assigned for a particular day will reach the school fifteen minutes before school time and do the cleaning.

(xii) Students of Classes I to VIII shall not be engaged in any cleaning job involving physical labour.

(xiii) All Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools will have a Cleanliness Club consisting of the Class Teachers, captains, and two students from each class.

(xiv) The Saturday of every week will be the Weekly Cleaning Day. The Cleanliness Club will take up a weekly drive to clean the school campus, surrounding areas, classrooms, library, common room, computer lab, toilets, etc.

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