Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
The EduPlant Schools' Competition has stimulated enormous interest in the use of permaculture for outcomes based Education. "My Department endorses such an initiative and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on an important venture which your are involved with. It is really pleasing when people join hands in saving planet earth by getting communities involved in activities which enhance environmental literacy and above all environmental problem solving projects. I encourage all school to be involved in such ventures and not only to win a prize at the end of a competition but also as a sigh of changed perception and lifestyle."
Minister Z Pallo Jordan, Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
The success of this competition motivated sponsors, Eskom Community Development, to suggest the running of "Introduction to Permaculture" workshops for government and teachers. Trees for Africa, EduPlant co-ordinators, ran a workshop in each province for representatives from five different departments, Education, Health, Agriculture, Water Affairs and Forestry and Environment Affairs. These were also well attended by teachers with an many as one hundred and fifty delegates in some provinces.
The workshops covered basic permaculture principles including an introduction to permaculture, the history, background, ethics and principles; an ecological understanding; the holistic goal formation process; designed environments; organisational and economic strategies, credit unions and eco-village developments; eco-tourism, eco-education and networking; and a practical plan of action session. Exercises and discussion on how to integrate these principles into outcomes based education for Curriculum 2005 were welcomed by educators. The results were encouraging. "What I have learnt at this course is most valuable especially as it will equip my students with some ecological skills, "N Godwana, Eastern Cape Workshop. "To be aware of our own environment being used as a resource for learning is exciting". Emily Mokone, Gauteng Workshop. "The nature of permaculture being a way of producing for ourselves, caring for our environment and being self-reliant needs to reach all!" Lawrence Dikokwe, North West Province Workshop.
Food security is another obvious benefit of incorporating permaculture into the curriculum. For Example Legaganeng Primary School in the Northern Province is one of several schools who were finalists in the EduPlant competition and through hard work have managed to establish a permaculture project for the benefits of pupils and community. The school feeding scheme is being replaced by food harvested from the permaculture project. The school is also expecting to sell the surplus production to the community in the near future.
For five schools (five from each province) will be chosen as finalists to attend environmental education and permaculture workshops, judging, cultural activities and a prize giving ceremony at Kromdraal Camp in October, courtesy of the Mpumalanga Parks Board. In addition to this exciting event, there are R40,000-00 worth of prizes to be won! Winning schools will receive cash prizes to develop their projects and all finalists win educational materials and vegetable seed.
Remember entries for the 1998 EduPlant Competition close on 30 August 1998, so if you don't already have an entry form please call project co-ordinators, Trees for Africa on (011) 8039750, for competition details and entry forms.