The Supreme Education Council (SEC) has announced its role as the supporting partner to the Msheireb-led Green Programme for Schools (GPS), during a signing ceremony at the Msheireb Enrichment Centre. With this new partnership, the SEC will provide the necessary assistance in identifying the 30 most appropriate local and international schools to participate in the programme and facilitate the registration process. Launched on June 5, GPS is the first environmental initiative for students in Qatar. It aims to reach, inspire and reward students and schools by meaningfully engaging the youth and inculcating in their minds the importance of building green equity. Based on pre-determined criteria, the 30 schools will be monitored and evaluated for a year on Water & Electricity conservation, paper recycling and reuse initiatives by GPS involving officials from Qatar Green Building Council, Msheireb Properties, Qatar Today Magazine and other technical members. The best performing schools in these categories will be awarded the ‘Eco School of the Year’. In addition, each school will also have strategically placed pledge boards, suggestion boxes and creative stickers inside the college that would constantly remind and encourage students to utilise resources carefully. Speaking about the partnership, SEC’s acting manager of communications office, Aisha al-Kuwari, commented: “At the SEC, we have always believed in incorporating best practices in the education system, and in every child through education. We are pleased to partner with a noble initiative such as GPS to further promote eco-friendly practices in schools. We believe that children can influence the community and family the best. And by educating them on living greener, we are actually reaching out to the entire community. We are paving the way for a more empowered and engaged generation, that will treat this planet with greater care.” “We are proud to welcome new committed partners like the SEC to join the GPS as their insight and support will be profoundly helpful,” commented Jawaher Al-Khuzaei, communications manager of Msheireb Properties. “This new eco schools initiative forms part of our extensive corporate social responsibility programme and underlines the very core of Msheireb Properties’ belief in sustainability and the environment. By encouraging the next generation to commit to becoming fully eco-aware, we are investing in the future of our nation.” Al-Khuzaei added: “By taking part in this programme, students will be able to grasp the valuable ‘green’ concepts behind the Msheireb redevelopment - those of preserving our heritage, designing a sustainable way of living in the community, architecture that draw on our ancestors’ insight, while at the same time aiming for the very highest LEED accreditation with the latest eco technology.” Oryx Advertising Company vice president Ravi Raman said: “Support from the SEC is a matter of pride and tremendous encouragement for GPS. Playing the vital role of education reform and development, their expert guidance will ensure that the coverage of the programme is wider and the impact greater. Through GPS, we intend taking eco-awareness to the very core of knowledge dissemination – the schools. As each of the schools in the programme gets branded, we expect to see a marked difference in them.”

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