(9 January 2006, Hong Kong) With full support of NWS Holdings Limited (“NWS Holdings” or the “Group”; Hong Kong stock code: 0659), a survey was conducted on pre-school environmental education in Hong Kong from September to December 2005 by local green group Green Power. About 300 children from some 30 kindergartens as well as teachers from about 300 kindergartens were interviewed on how much they know about the environment and their views towards current environmental education in kindergartens respectively. The survey revealed that some of the young children had little understanding about natural resources and the environmental problems caused in daily lives. Nearly 50% of the kindergarten teachers pointed out their lack of training in environmental education.
Green Power believed that it is important to provide educational support to kindergartens so as to nurture environmental awareness among pre-school children. In view of this, NWS Holdings and Green Power jointly launched Green Kindergarten Network, the first environmental education programme for pre-school children in Hong Kong in April 2005. The programme provides educational aids, training and guided tours to facilitate environmental education in kindergartens.
Being part of the Green Kindergarten Network’s programme, the survey revealed that many children were not familiar with where some resources, such as rice and water, are from, and where domestic disposals, such as sewage and garbage, eventually go to. This meant they might not perceive the significance of protecting natural resources and reducing waste. It was also founded that many young children had little interaction with the nature. For example, over 60% of the respondents said they had never lain or sit on grass.
Most of the kindergarten teachers believed that their students did not have sufficient knowledge about the natural environment. And 80% and 50% of the teachers being interviewed said they had difficulties in finding appropriate educational kits and receiving relevant training respectively.
The two organizers, NWS Holdings and Green Power, believed that the earlier children can be educated on environmental conservation, the easier they would become environmental conscious when they grew up. Ms Maria Cheung, Senior Manager – Corporate Communication of NWS Holdings, said, “The Group has always been committed to environmental conservation. We are happy that about 450 kindergartens (about 50%) in Hong Kong have joined Green Kindergarten Network as members over the past year. Besides, we have also trained up about 200 kindergarten teachers and organized different kinds of activities for up to 4,000 kindergarten students through this programme. NWS Holdings will continue to support it to nurture environmental awareness among the young generation.”
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This press release is also available on the Group’s website ( www.nws.com.hk) .
Launched in April 2005, Green Kindergarten Network welcomes all kindergartens to join as members free of charge. In the kick-off ceremony, over 3,100 students and teachers from 65 kindergartens produced the world’s largest handprint painting that has broken the Guinness World Records. Educational kits were published to provide innovative and practical methods on teaching environmental education in kindergartens. About 200 teachers were trained to conduct environmental education in public parks in various training workshops. Besides, a total of nearly 200 children learnt the environmental practices in businesses through visits to bus depot and plant nursery of subsidiary companies of NWS Holdings. Two Green Buses, decorated from two double-deckers of New World First Bus and Citybus respectively, were also launched to spread green message across the territory.
NWS Holdings Limited (“NWS Holdings”, Hong Kong stock code: 0659), the infrastructure and service flagship of New World Development Company Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 0017), embraces a diversified range of businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau. Its Infrastructure portfolio includes Roads, Energy, Water and Ports projects. Its Service & Rental division comprises Facilities Rental (the management of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and ATL Logistics Centre), Contracting (Hip Hing Construction Group and NWS Engineering Group), Transport (New World First Bus, Citybus and New World First Ferry), etc.
Green Power was founded in 1988 by a group of dedicated volunteers concerned about local environmental affairs and problems. Green Power has always put environmental education as its first and foremost priority because they believe that education is the ultimate way of transforming our thinking and behaviour. Green Power established the Green School Network in Hong Kong in 2001 to encourage environmental education in cooperation with schools. Green Power also established a pioneering onsite Environmental Resource Centre for secondary and primary schools.
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