The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has embarked on mobilizing students to plant trees as part of the roll out of the competency based curriculum (CBC). The KICD Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charles Ongondo launched the tree planting exercise at Orero High School in Homa Bay Thursday in a bid to enhance forest cover in the country.
He said that the programme is part of the government’s efforts of planting over 15 billion trees across the country by 2032.
Ongondo said in Homa Bay County, the target was to plant at least 1000 tree seedlings in selected primary and secondary schools. “The programme encompasses teaching students on planting, adopting and nurturing trees.
The adoption enables individual students to inculcate the culture of planting and nurturing trees,” he said. The CEO was accompanied by Homa Bay Director of Education Eunice Khaemba and Homa Bay Forest Conservator Sharon Cheluget.
Ong’ondo said they intend to plant at least 100,000 trees in the current rainy season through the programme. He said CBC programs are practical and nurturing learners’ skills in tree planting will help mitigate adverse effects of deforestation.
He said they were encouraging learners to plant trees at home during the upcoming holidays stressing they were set to plant 25,000 trees in 25 selected schools in Homa Bay.
“Giving a student trees to adopt at school and home enables them to grow up as citizens who have embraced the culture of planting trees,” he added.
Ong’ondo expressed optimism that the programme will enhance rainfall in the country noting: “Climate change causes unpredictable weather patterns which affect crop production. The project is going to address climate change and improve food security in the country.”
On her part, Khaemba said the project is going to boost nutrition in schools through planting of fruit trees. She said 30 per cent of trees planted in the schools were fruit trees.
She said the trees will also enable schools to hold lessons in a conducive cool environment during hot seasons.
Speaking during the function, Homa Bay Forest Conservator Ms Sharon Cheluget said the project will help improve the forest cover in the region from the current 3.4 to the targeted 10 per cent.
By Davis Langat
