Indonesia: Plastic waste education to be included in school curriculum

ANTARA 30 Nov 18;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has said plastic waste education will be included in the school curriculum.

"In cooperation with the Education and Culture Ministry, we will include it in the curriculum from kindergarten to senior high schools," Pandjaitan said at a press conference, here, Friday.

The public should understand the danger of plastic waste; therefore, children should learn about plastic waste from an early age.

Plastic waste education was taught in 13 provinces this year, and next year, it will be taught in 34 provinces.

"There are model schools in plastic waste education," he said.

Plastic waste education is a program, which is part of the Presidential regulation No 83/2018 on Marine Waste Handling.

However, plastic waste education will not be a new lesson but will be added to several modules.

The government has paid serious attention to the waste problem because it is not just a current problem, but also one that will arise in the future.

If a pregnant woman eats a fish that has swallowed plastic waste, she would give birth to a stunted baby.

Nani Hendiarti, assistant to deputy in charge of maritime science and technology application of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs office, said school modules on plastic waste are being prepared by the Education and Culture Ministry.

"Concretely, it is also included in the existing lessons, depending on their grades. For kindergarten students, for instance, it will be presented through games, pictures etc," she added.

Reporting by Indriani
Editing by Fardah, Bustanuddin

Editor: Bustanuddin