A Study on Environmental Education-A Barefoot College Model Understanding

Abstract

Introduction: A broad coalition of educators and policymakers now agree it’s too narrow to rely on test scores as the sole indicator of student success. A strong academic foundation is important, but students need additional mindsets, habits, and skills to be successful in the long run. Organizations have been working in this area for years, but the field lacks consensus on which SEL (Social Emotional Learning) skills are most important, how to support teachers in creating learning environments that foster them, and how to measure their development. Objectives: The risk in this ambiguity is that like so many other promising ideas, today’s trend could become tomorrow’s fad. Because of the societal shifts, today’s children are busy playing indoor games and electronic gadgets. They spend most of their time in watching Television, listening to music, playing video games or surfing Internet or using Computer. They have no time to travel around and to explore the natural world around them. This not only impacts the health of children but also detach them from their surroundings and nature. They are grown up into adults who are least bothered about conserving nature. Raising an environmentally educated generation is also necessary because of the depleting of natural resources. India has one of the world’s fastest growing economies, but a lack of skills among the working population is one of the main bottlenecks to higher and more inclusive growth. Strong growth in key sectors, including information and communication technology (ICT), raises the demand for skilled workers. But employer surveys indicate skills shortages in ICT, financial services, tourism, retail, and skill-intensive manufacturing. India needs to improve the quality of its higher education system and expand access, while better using and disseminating the knowledge gained through innovative education models being developed in India and elsewhere. Findings: The paper highlights the need for Skill based environmental education in India with a special reference to a similar Skill Empowering Environmental Educational Organization-Barefoot College.