Non Formal Environment Education

Non-formal education is an integral part of a lifelong learning concept that allows young people and adults to acquire and maintain the skills, abilities and outlook needed to adapt to a continuously changing environment. It can be acquired on the personal initiative of each individual through different learning activities taking place outside the formal educational system. 

Non-formal environment education provides key opportunities for creating environmentally literate citizens outside the formal classroom setting. In this type of education system, programs are developed to increase environmental education opportunities for all audiences of our society and used for delivery techniques that go beyond formal environment education.

Non formal environmental education includes awareness and trainings which plays a significant role in encouraging and enhancing people's participation in activities aimed at conservation, protection and management of the environment, essential for achieving sustainable development. The MoEF, therefore, accords priority for the promotion of non-formal environment education and creation of awareness among all sections of the society through diverse activities using traditional and modern media of communication.

Some of the major activities undertaken in this regard in the State Punjab state are as follows:  
National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC)  
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has been conducting National Environment Awareness Campaigns (NEAC) every year since 1986 to create environmental awareness amongst the general masses. A central theme is selected for the campaign every year and the activities focus on this theme. The objectives of  the scheme is to create mass awareness among general public, students and other target groups about environmental problems and to take measures for environment protection by active involvement of NGOs and educational institutions.

Punjab State council for Science & Technology  (PSCST) has been appointed Regional Resource Agency(RRA) for Punjab state since  1993-94. As  RRA, PSCST assists the Ministry in Planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the campaign in the State. Under the scheme, the  Council motivates all NGOs and Schools/institutions in Punjab to celebrates all environmentally important days such as   World Wetlands Day ( 2nd Feb), World Environment Day (5th June) and International Day for Preservation of Ozone layer (16th Sep).    A status of various activities undertaken by PSCST under NEAC in last 6 years are given below: