WBCPCR Pitches Hands-on Climate Projects for School Students

SOUMITRA NANDI, MP, 29 Dec 2025, KOLKATA: The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) has proposed a hands-on environmental project for school students to be undertaken during vacations. The initiative aims to help students better understand the connection between environmental changes and everyday life. This proposal has been submitted to the School Education Department.

The suggestion came out of the first round-table discussion on "Integrating Climate Education for Child Safety and Resilience in the West Bengal School Ecosystem", which was organized by WBCPCR in collaboration with the Climate Educators Network (CEN). During the meeting, existing climate education lessons were reviewed, and new, relevant issues were also deliberated.

WBCPCR has recommended to the Syllabus Committee that students be assigned hands-on environmental projects tailored to the climatic conditions of their geographical areas. Officials believe that carrying out these projects during vacations will allow students to engage in experiential learning and understand climate-related issues in a more practical and effective manner. The projects may also carry marks, which would encourage healthy competition among students.

A WBCPCR official noted that textbook-based learning on environmental issues has its limitations. Hands-on projects, the official explained, would help students connect environmental studies to real-life situations.

"We have already submitted a booklet containing the proposal, along with samples of such projects, to the Syllabus Committee for their consideration," said Tulika Das, WBCPCR chairperson.

Senior officials from the Samagra Siksha Mission wing of the Education Department, the Environment Department, members of the Syllabus Committee, and top officials of WBCPCR were present at the round-table discussion. Experts at the event also stressed the need for teacher orientation programmes to ensure that educators can teach the environmental aspects of the school curriculum in an engaging and effective manner.