Environmental science- its role in the curriculum

Environmental Science, popularly known as EVS is the part of curriculum right from the primary standards to the high schools. There is no doubt that students pay more attention to the fundamental subjects like Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Subjects like languages and EVS are considered below grade and sometimes students raise the question about its relevance in the curriculum. Nobody denies that the basic subjects are always important and they play a major role in the selection process for medical and engineering courses. However, EVS is also equally important and it should be looked as an integral part of the syllabus. It is required that teachers also give more attention to it and try their level best to make it interesting and relevant to the students. There are a few critical aspects that make it an important subject.

a)      It gives the basic understanding about the environment: Topics like pollution, natural resources, dependability of human life to the nature are covered in EVS and thus it becomes very important subject. Typically the primary classes cover these important and critical topics in a simpler manner and the level gets increased with the higher classes. It is very much important to emphasize these things to the new generation so that they can become responsible citizens of the country in the future.

b)      It inculcates the social responsibility: EVS teaches us how we are dependent on the society and what we owe to it? Maintaining cleanliness in the surroundings, recycling the material, conservation of the natural resources, etc. are taught from the lowest level of education. It has a deep-rooted impact in the subconscious mind of the students. They develop good habits that are carried forever in the mind.

c)       It teaches the way of living: We live in the society and there are certain norms that are to be followed by everyone. EVS teaches them in an easy manner and they really help us a lot in the subsequent life. Following the rules, understanding the rights and extending the duties are taught in such a manner that we never forget them for the rest of the life. Understanding the social and political structure would help in adding the value to the society.

EVS is the part of school curriculum with a rationale and therefore teachers should try to make it as interesting and practical as possible. It will help the students to understand and appreciate the subject properly.