The Kumasi Mayor, Hon Samuel Pyne has launched a competition aimed at instilling the culture of proper waste collection and management in the minds of pupils in Five (5) Basic schools in the metropolis. 

Addressing stakeholders of the project including Staff from the Kumasi Metro Education Directorate as well as school pupils, the Mayor noted that the rationale for the competition is to make school children very aware about their environment and the need to keep it clean at all times.

The Mayor said the KMA under the ongoing project termed HORESD has been able to make waste bins available to the five selected schools to begin the competition by separating and segregating solid waste from light waste materials on their campuses.

“We at the KMA believe everything is well taught when it is done at the basic level and just as the Bible says teach the Child the way it should go so that when it is old it will not go away from same we are also working to instill proper waste collection skills in these kids in the Basic Schools in Kumasi and award the school that does the separation best over the period of the competition”, the Mayor stated.

Details:

The Mayor revealed that the selected schools for the pilot project are Amankwatia Primary A&B Schools, Fankyenebra Primary A&B Schools and the Bantama Presby Primary A&B Schools,

The rest are St. Joseph’s Primary A&B Schools, and Buokrom MA Primary A&B Schools.

These schools, he noted have been taught how to collect waste for recycling and for resuse.

The school that best recycles and reuses the plastics and others collected, the Mayor advised could sell their products and make money for their school including rewarding the pupils.

International Coordinator:

Speaking at the event, Dr Helder Moreira, the International Coordinator for the European Union sponsored HORESD project said keeping the environment clean was a shared responsibility.

He commended the KMA especially the Mayor for the design of the project, adding that children were best to start anything new with.

He therefore stressed that basic schools played vital roles in shaping values and habits and lauded the idea to involve them in striving for sustainable environmental excellence.

Metro Education Directorate:

Mrs Judith Bamford Mensah, speaking for the Metro Education Director posited that waste separation and recycling offered students valuable opportunities including critical thinking skills, creativity, and deeper understanding of environmental issues.

According to her, hands-on experiences such as composting would offer skills to pupils.

She noted that it will also grant the opportunity to pupils to gain practical skills and also develop a sense of ownership and pride in their contribution to healthier environment.

“I urge the pupils to embrace the principles of waste separation and recycling not only within schools but beyond their boundaries”, she stated.

Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie,

Kumasi