Public Test, Elementary Schools in Bireuen will Implement Environmental Education Teaching Modules.

Public Test, Elementary Schools in Bireuen will Implement Environmental Education Teaching Modules.

The Aceh Wetland Foundation in collaboration with Almuslim University Bireuen is completing the Environmental Education Teaching Module (PLH) to support the implementation of learning about the environment, especially regarding wetland habitats.

Executive Director of the Aceh Wetland Foundation (AWF), Yusmadi Yusuf, Thursday (6/6/2024) said that his party was very happy to be able to make this PLH syllabus a success to strengthen the role and awareness of the community regarding Paya Nie's function as a protected area.

It was stated that the PLH module public testing activity had been carried out at the Bireuen Regency Education and Culture Service Hall on June 5 2024, to coincide with the commemoration of World Environment Day 2024.

In the event which was opened by the Head of the Bireuen Regency Education and Culture Service, Muslim, he said that the PLH teaching module was very useful for introducing the environment, especially regarding wetland habitats, to students at the elementary school level.

"We strongly agree to introduce the Paya Nie swamp habitat as an educational location for environmental education," said Muslim.

Muslim emphasized that the Paya Nie swamp landscape is an area with a protected function that cannot be converted for agriculture or plantations. "This swamp is an incomparable wealth, it is much better for preventing floods than lakes, because swamps store much more water," explained this spatial expert.

Muslim gave the example of the change in the function of Paya Kareung in Bireuen which has been turned into agricultural land. "There will be environmental impacts from any change in function," he said.

Regarding this, Muslim appealed to all elementary school principals in Bireuen Regency to practice this teaching module for students. "I also asked the Head of Elementary School and the Head of Kindergarten/PAUD to bring the children to know the Paya Nie swamp," he asked.

Head of the Syllabus Drafting Team, Cut Azizah, explained that this teaching module was prepared with the theme "Paya Nie Natural School" which had been approved by the Head of the Bireuen Education Department.

Cut Azizah also said that Rawa Paya Nie is a wetland habitat that is facing serious threats from functional change. Initially this swamp had an area of ​​300.14 hectares, but currently only 262 hectares remain.

Through educational channels, Cut Azizah believes that the public will care more about protecting the Paya Nie swamp. "This educational program will help promote conservation action in the Paya Nie swamp," said this environmental management expert.

He explained that the Paya Nie habitat is rich in biodiversity and water bird species. Apart from that, it is also a water catchment area which can accommodate around 600 million cubic meters of water.

Therefore, this wetland habitat is very relevant as a location for environmental education for students. “We want children in Bireuen to have knowledge about wetlands. "Don't let us only know about wetlands in other countries, even though there are important wetlands around us," he said.

Member of the Syllabus Drafting Team, Misnar, M.A, said that the teaching modules that were prepared could be used directly by schools. "This module is ready to use," he said.

This syllabus emphasizes the initial competencies that students must have before studying this module, namely the ability to analyze natural wealth based on local wisdom.

The learning system is student-based. This module also includes four dimensions, namely faith and devotion to God Almighty, independence, collaboration, and critical reasoning.

Misnar added that the target of this learning is for students to be able to design and carry out comprehensive mini research on freshwater swamps, which includes in-depth analysis of soil mineral composition, complete documentation of ecosystems in various freshwater zones, as well as careful comparisons between vegetation characteristics in the area. deep swamps and river banks.