Schools must equip students to tackle climate crisis, says Eklavya School MD

In an interview with The Tribune, Seema Handa, Managing Director of Eklavya School, emphasised the urgent need for schools to play a proactive role in addressing the climate crisis. She shared that students must be empowered with the knowledge and values necessary to protect the environment and build a sustainable future.

Today education is envisioned as a symphony of knowledge and character, preparing learners not only for professional success but also for meaningful and compassionate participation in society.

Education extends far beyond the boundaries of classrooms and textbooks. The role of schools is not limited to imparting knowledge—it is about shaping young minds. In today’s fast-paced world, students face numerous challenges and one of the greatest among them is the climate crisis.

Children are growing up amid unpredictable weather patterns, rising pollution and global temperatures—issues that are no longer distant threats. “As educators, we cannot remain silent spectators. It is our responsibility to equip students with the knowledge, values and habits needed to protect the environment and secure a sustainable future.”

At Eklavya School, Jalandhar, a number of initiatives have been implemented under the “Green Campus Drive.” Every student is required to plant and nurture at least one tree every year. The school gardens now include medicinal plants and native species, contributing to local biodiversity. The school’s Eco Club conducts awareness campaigns on energy conservation and organises cleanliness drives in the local community.

Parents are vital partners in this journey. Families are being encouraged to adopt eco-friendly practices at home and the results are beginning to speak for themselves. Many students share stories of how they have inspired their families to begin composting or replace single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives.

Technology has become the cornerstone of modern education. The most radiant feature of contemporary learning is its seamless integration with digital advancements. Digital classrooms, e-libraries and virtual universities have evolved into powerful tools, bridging geographic divides and providing knowledge to students regardless of location or circumstance.

Today’s educational pedagogy places high value on creativity, critical reasoning, collaborative effort and emotional intelligence—nurturing learners to become well-rounded individuals rather than mere carriers of academic information.

However, the excessive use of digital devices has emerged as a growing concern. While technology is now inseparable from education, its overuse—particularly for non-academic purposes—has raised significant alarms around student health, focus and social engagement. Educators emphasise that the solution lies not in banning technology, but in guiding students toward responsible digital habits.

To address this, Digital Detox periods have been implemented, during which students are encouraged to engage in reading, creative arts, physical activity and face-to-face interactions. This simple initiative has shown visible improvements. Furthermore, there is now an enhanced focus on physical fitness and extracurricular participation through integrated yoga, meditation and outdoor sports.

To support these efforts, schools are conducting regular awareness sessions for both students and parents on topics such as cybersecurity, screen time management and the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.

Academic stress, especially during examinations, remains a pressing issue. Observations over the years indicate that exam-related anxiety often stems less from subject difficulty and more from the burden of expectations placed by society, peers and even family members. Many bright and capable students experience a drop in confidence as they begin to equate their self-worth solely with marks and grades.

In response, schools have introduced special counselling sessions with professional counsellors, conducted both before and after examinations. These sessions focus on relaxation techniques, time management strategies and effective study habits. To further ease exam-related stress, confidence-building mock tests and balanced schedule planning have also been initiated.

Ultimately, today’s education is a double-edged sword—rich with opportunity but demanding careful navigation. It is deeper, more inclusive and more connected than ever before. Its true success, however, lies in harmonising technological innovation with traditional values and aligning intellectual growth with emotional maturity. When guided with wisdom, education continues to be the sunrise that awakens dormant souls, the bridge that unites civilisations and the eternal torch lighting the path of progress for generations to come.