- THE Penang Green School Award Programme has attracted a significant rise in the number of participating schools from both Penang island and Seberang Perai, from 54 schools in 2010 to 241 schools this year.
Both Penang Green Council (PGC) and Penang Development Corporation (PDC) are co-organising the Penang Green School Award and the Penang Green Kindy Incentive.
PGC general manager Josephine Tan Mei Ling said they are honoured to welcome PDC, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, on board as co-organiser and sponsoring prizes for these two projects.
The Penang Green School Award Programme is an annual environmental audit programme for both primary and secondary schools. The participating schools are evaluated on four criteria, namely resource efficiency (energy conservation, water conservation and 3R), innovation & creativity, cleanliness & greening and community involvement.
Owing to the success of the award programme, PGC launched the Penang Green Kindy Incentive programme early this year.
Tan said the top 10 kindergartens with the highest results would receive an incentive of RM500 which would be presented during the Green Pinang Award Presentation Ceremony at St Giles Wembly Hotel in George Town on Nov 11.
“By incorporating green and sustainable practices, schools are able to create a healthy and conducive learning environment for everyone. In the long run, the school management will see a reduction in operating cost while playing an important role as a catalyst to promote environmental conservation,” she said.
PDC general manager Datuk Mohd Bazid Abd Kahar said the initiative would lead the state to be a green state in the near future.
“We hope that our involvement in this event will inspire more people to strive for a sustainable and liveable city by providing cleaner, greener, safer and healthier living environment for all status of society in Penang,” Mohd Bazid told a press conference at the PDC office at Bayan Baru today.
“The award programme aims to educate schools on environmental management and instil love for the environment among students while the kindy incentive aims to nurture young kids to care for the environment.”
He also stressed that the main reason PDC was involved in these programmes was in line with the Penang2030 vision: A Family-focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation.
He said another main factor was also with PDC’s strategic plan and vision to develop their third township, Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan into a smart eco city.
Story by Danny Ooi
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi