Schools get funding to stay green

Local government is stepping in to help enviroschools after central government cut the programme’s funding.

Manukau City Council will provide $40,000 for the remainder of the 2009/2010 financial year.

Another $80,000 is recommended to go to the programme for the 2010/2011 financial year but it remains subject to confirmation by the Auckland Transition Agency.

Mayor Len Brown says the programme is an extremely positive initiative for the city’s schools, youth and communities, that we can’t afford to loose.

A request from the Enviro Council at Pakuranga College spurred the council into action.

The programme operates within 32 Manukau schools.

"It’s a real success story – our children learn how to apply their core maths and English skills in a practical way through environmental learning," Mr Brown says.

"It is through the next generations that we will have a successful, strong and sustainable community and city.

"Enviroschools has brought about real results – environmental improvement, reduced anti-social behaviour, youth leadership, Maori achievement and community engagement.

"These are the elements that create strong communities and it’s these that we want to foster.

"By picking up this funding, we are continuing the investment in our community," he says.

Policy and activities committee chairwoman Colleen Brown says it is clear the learning is inter-generational.

"We’re seeing school children teaching their parents and grandparents and their siblings, so the benefits have a wide reach into the community."

"This is an exciting programme because it is about equipping people for the future.

The enviroschools programme has operated in Manukau since 2002.

Originally developed in the Waikato in the 1990s, it has since been extended into schools across the country.

There are 670 enviroschools nationally, with 151 in the Auckland region.

- © Fairfax NZ News