KUCHING: The organisation of the Sustainable School-Environmental Award Programme (SLAAS) is an effort to create a school environment that emphasises the preservation and conservation of the environment.
State Department of Environment (DOE) Director Hazland Mohamad said it also involved aspects of management, curriculum, co-curriculum and greening of the school environment.
“Therefore, the involvement of school children in SLAAS activities will give them the opportunity to practice, appreciate and cultivate environmentally friendly characteristics in the school environment, home, local community, society and finally at the state and national level,” he said.
He said this at the Sarawak State Level SLAAS Award Ceremony Session 2020/2022 in conjunction with the 2022 National Environment Day (HASN) Celebration at SMK Pending Hall, near here, yesterday.
“In addition to the awarding of SLAAS, today’s programme (Oct 29) also involves a campaign for the collection of electrical and electronic waste or e-waste and the sale of compost, leisurely garbage collection, environmental quizzes, lectures, drawing competitions with the theme of environmental love as well as environmental exhibition.
“Programmes and campaigns based on environmental care are not only focused on HASN, but other activities are also carried out throughout the year such as enforcement programmes – Mobile Ops, Fire Ops, Open Burning Prevention Operations (OMPT), Peatland Fire Prevention SOP Trial Programme, planting activities 1RAS 1 Pokok with the cooperation of state and federal agencies including DOE’s strategic partner,” he said.
The 2022 SLAAS Awards at the state level saw two categories being contested, namely secondary schools and primary schools.
SMK Pending won the Sustainable School Special Award and the second spot was won by SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg, Kuching.
Meanwhile, the winner of the primary school category was SJKC Tung Hua, Sibu which also bagged three special awards namely Management Criteria, Curriculum and Special Elements.
Second place went to SJKC Chung Hua, Miri who also won a special award for Curriculum and Greening and the third place went to SJKC Min Daik, Meradong.
The awards ceremony was officiated at by Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr. Hazland Abang Hipni.