Ecological degradation has become a worldwide problem. Man himself is responsible for this destruction, as mankind is fast zeroing on to the inescapable fallout of the ecological time bomb. Nature is fast reacting to the sacrilege perpetrated by man on the ecosystem that supports all forms of life on earth. Man has for long forgotten that he can survive only in conjunction with the inviolability of the animal and plant kingdoms. Global warming threatens the survival of people in different islands and the coastal areas. Steady deforestation triggers sudden floods and draughts. When old people say that the climate has changed and that it is not what it is used to be fifty years ago, they are absolutely right.
Polluted air, dirty water, solid waste dumped on earth and smoke are the great dangers in all walks of life, coupled with an apathetic community, have compounded the destruction of the ecological system. The past and the present generations have done enough damage to turn the clock back. Do we think that at least the coming generation should not repeat the mistake we have committed?
The students of today must learn to rebuild a better and healthier ecology, learning to forgo the foolishness indulged in by their forefathers. The NCERT for the school level, the UGC for the College and University levels, and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for the professional level, have been assigned the task of preparing syllabi on Environment Studies. The Supreme Court of India approved the model school syllabus for Environment studies prepared by the NCERT on April 24, 2004. Besides this, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, has accorded the priority to promote environmental studies and create environmental awareness among various age-groups and to diffuse information through Environment Information System (ENVIS) network to all concerned.
Environment as a compulsory subject must be included in the curriculum at all levels. It is the need of the hour that the syllabus should be prepared for different stages of education on war footing. At the school level the students have to learn all about pollution, deforestation, depletion of Ozone Layer, greenhouse effects, global warming and issues of local, national and global ecological concerns. Such issues could cover topics as deforestation and its impact on climate such as delayed monsoons, sudden floods, draughts and threat to flora (pant life) and fauna (wildlife), the pollution of rivers and its consequences on human health, air pollution and ways to check it, young minds have to be taught that environment cleanliness is as important as personal cleanliness. They need to be provided the aid of audio-visual media to study the impact of ecological degradation on the ecosystem.
The future of a safe environment lies in the hands of the citizens of tomorrow. The children of today will be the administrators, leaders, engineers, social-workers and opinion makers of tomorrow. Children of today must learn to strike a balance between development and ecology. None can deny the importance of economic and industrial development as a key to improving the quality of life, but this should be done by causing the least harm to the environment. Time is running out and we cannot afford to remain complacent any more.