Shillong, Jan 24: A climate education outreach programme was conducted by Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation organisation, at two government schools in Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam, helping students understand the relations between climate change, trees, sustainability and mathematics.
The outreach event was organised on January 20 at Auniati Kamaldev Girls’ High School and North Guwahati Girls’ High School, with support from Wipro earthian. The initiative aimed to strengthen climate literacy among students through hands-on, experiential learning.
Climate change increasingly disrupts education by affecting student attendance, nutrition, safety and overall learning outcomes. Extreme events such as floods, cyclones, droughts and heatwaves frequently damage school infrastructure, disrupt academic calendars and displace families, placing children’s education at constant risk.
As India progresses towards its net-zero target by 2070, the Government of India has prioritised climate education through the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023, which emphasise sustainability, ecological understanding, green skills and experiential, skill-based learning.
In line with these national priorities, Aaranyak’s outreach programme engaged students in understanding climate change scientifically, recognising the ethical and ecological value of native trees, adopting sustainable practices and strengthening mathematical and analytical skills through real-life environmental applications.
During the event, Tikendrajit Gogoi, Project Officer, Environment Education & Capacity Building Division (EECBD) of Aaranyak, highlighted the importance of trees in maintaining Earth’s ecological balance.
He explained that ancient Indian texts such as the Vedas regard trees as sacred entities linked to the concept of Ṛta (ऋत)–the cosmic, moral and natural order of the universe and emphasise tree protection as essential for sustaining this balance.
Students actively participated in practical exercises including plant height measurement, age calculation and estimation of carbon storage, applying mathematical concepts to real-world environmental contexts under expert guidance.
Forty-three students and teachers participated in the programme, which was coordinated by Tikendrajit Gogoi.
