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With the collaboration of researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), three secondary schools made the nation proud in the CO2nnect –CO2 on the way to school competition organized by Partnership and Participation for A Sustainable Tomorrow (SUPPORT) recently.

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Serdang Kedah and SMK Perempuan St. George, Penang shared second place while SMK Bukit Jambul won the Highly Commendable Project Award in the sustainability-based competition.

Amongst others, the on-line competition provides an opportunity for school students world-wide to create an initiative in reducing carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles, one of the causes that threaten the environment.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak not only said that the university was very proud of this achievement but that it was time that sustainability issues were viewed seriously by all parties.

He added that issues related to sustainability were the pillars of education at tertiary level and this was entrenched in its theme, that is, Transforming Higher Education for a Sustainable Tomorrow.

“ Sustainability is a keyword in education, in line with the global changes that are sweeping the world. We therefore have collaborated with several parties, including the schools in championing this cause and the success of the three schools is the outcome of our efforts,” he said at a press conference here, today.

Meanwhile, the participant from SMK St. George, Andrea Ong said that the victory of taking second spot in the competition was not only a surprise but also an encouragement.

“We are happy because through this competition, there are many benefits to be reaped in helping to reduce environmental pollution especially pollution caused by carbon emissions from vehicles,” she said.

She added that her team had carried out several activities including the distribution of pamphlets on the importance of protecting the environment to the public and school students.

Another participant, Eureka Foong from SMK Bukit Jambul said that the competition had opened her eyes and her mind to man’s greed in destroying the environment through the use of various kinds of vehicles.

She went on to say that society has to start taking initiatives to reduce the use of vehicles because they are the major contributory factor to air and environmental pollution.

“I hope the relevant authorities will view the matter seriously and take action to improve public transportation. This is to ensure that the use of private transport can be reduced and indirectly this will reduce pollution,” she explained.

The success of SMK Serdang and SMK St. George qualifies them to present their project and receive their prize during the Support Conference: Continuing the UN Decade for ESD scheduled to be held in April 2010 in Bergen, Norway.

The USM researchers involved include Prof. Dr. Abdul Rashid Mohamed, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Syarifah Norhaidah Syed Idros, Dr. Norizan Esa, Dr. Mohamad Ali Samsudin, Dr. Hashimah Mohd. Yunus and several other lecturers, all of whom are from the School of Educational Studies

Details of the contents, materials and activities of the competition can be accessed from the wen site www.co2nnect.org.

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