IPM and Environmental Education

"Maintaining a sustainable environment is essential to create a viable future for humanity and education plays a vital role in this process.

The NSW Government places great emphasis on supporting environmental education in schools, with a curriculum that provides methods for the ecologically sustainable management of school resources. This gives students a starting point for addressing global environment issues.

The Environmental Education Curriculum for Kindergarten to Year 12 students focuses on students gaining a sense of personal responsibility for their own environment.

The NSW Government supports schools developing environmental and ethical awareness among students including developing competencies to identify and address environmental issues."

The Hon John Watkins MP
Minister for Education and Training

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION POLICY

The Environmental Education Policy for Schools is a mandatory policy for all NSW government schools from Kindergarten to Year 12. The policy is based on the principles of ecologically sustainable development and provides a comprehensive approach to environmental education which enables students to participate actively in improving the school environment, address local environmental issues, play an active role and participate as global citizens in protecting the environment.

IPM fits well and contributes positively to all three objectives of the Environmental Education Policy.

IPM and Curriculum Objectives

Incorporating IPM into the environmental education program provides opportunities to fulfil all curriculum objectives. For example, IPM requires knowledge and understanding of the biology and habitats of pest organisms and the interaction of people in creating conducive conditions for pests. IPM is a community-based approach to pest management, which involves decision-making based on monitoring, recording and evaluating information. IPM upholds the principles of ecologically sustainable development. IPM requires the application of technical expertise within an environmental context and centres around identifying and assessing problems then communicating, resolving and evaluating them with others.

IPM and Management of Resources

IPM also fulfils the objectives for the management of resources because it takes a whole-school approach to policy development and employs best practice pest management. Many learning opportunities are available through the adoption of IPM and resource management.

IPM and Management of School Grounds

IPM fulfils the directive to adopt the principles of ecologically sustainable development in the management of built and natural environments within schools. School grounds are learning environments in themselves and an understanding of the role that organisms play is essential.

School Environmental Plan

IPM should be incorporated into the School Environmental Management Plan under the Whole-School Plan.

Curriculum	Management Of Resources	Management Of School Grounds
Opportunities exist for the inclusion of IPM into environmental education programs (existing and new).	Minimising chemical pesticides is a priority for the protection of health and the environment.	Grounds and buildings can be learning areas in IPM.
IPM policy to include a commitment to the education of the entire school community. Staff identify opportunities for student involvement in IPM.	IPM is best practice, cost effective, promotes a healthier school environment and provides participatory democracy in the management of pest control.	IPM is a long-term strategy that protects and enhances biodiversity in the school environment.
Students learn about potential pests and their habitats and investigate criteria for setting management objectives.	Executive, maintenance staff and pest managers identify opportunities for adoption of ESD principles within IPM Policy. Identify potential for cost savings and other benefits.Assess training needs.	Schools work with local community to link to other land and habitat conservation projects (e.g. reducing stormwater pollution).
Students conduct a pest audit and identify opportunities for their involvement in the on-going monitoring and identification program.	Purchasing policy covers liability, time frames, effectiveness and ensures compliance with all relevant government regulations, laws and policies and IPM policy.	School community explores links between IPM policy, environmental education curricula and SEP.
Staff and students identify occupant sensitivities and review IPM policy objectives and action thresholds.	Inspect areas that require maintenance.	Manage pests that may occur on school sites to reduceinterference with the learning environment of students. Minimise risks of injury to students, staff and other occupants.
Design IPM strategies based on knowledge of pest biology and habitats.	IPM strategies to reflect ESD requirements. Monitor material use in maintenance in accordance with ESD principles.	Preserve and enhance the integrity of the school buildings, structures and surrounds.
All staff and students understand and implement hygienestandards as part of the IPM strategy.	Identify learning opportunities in resource management.	Identify areas in school grounds and buildings requiring on-going management and long-term strategies for rehabilitation and repair.
Monitoring, identifying and reporting pest activity.	Notify school community of commencement and details of the IPM strategy.	IPM strategies to achieve long term management of pests and enhance grounds and buildings.
IPM strategies evaluated against IPM policy objectives and SEP requirements.	Evaluate use of resources and compliance with ESD.	Evaluate results of long-term IPM strategies and enhancement to school grounds and buildings.