Introduction

According to UNICEF, the generations to come in the next ten or twenty years will be three times more exposed to climate change than those of the past. Today, many young people are unaware of the environmental emergency. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to make environmental science a compulsory part of African educational curricula?

An Uncertain Future for Future Generations? 

No words can really describe the environmental emergency we have been facing for the last few years. Real climate change has shaken the entire planet, especially the African continent. These changes include drought, heat waves, cyclones and fires (South Africa January 2024). Also, earthquakes, especially recently in South Africa (June 2023) and Morocco (2023). No part of the planet is immune to these changes. There is enormous scepticism about the future of our children and future generations.

Are Future Generations Themselves the Right Solution? 

Today, many efforts are being made by NGOs and governments to protect the environment. The involvement of young people seems less and less perceptible. However, it is more beneficial to get younger people involved, to make them more responsible. To do this, we need to introduce environmental science into our curricula and make it compulsory. This has a number of advantages, including raising the awareness of young people, which will be effective and global, ensuring that in the future, they will be defenders of the ecology, and also their participation in international meetings on the environment. Several countries have experimented with the idea, notably in West Africa.

So How can Environmental Science be Introduced into the Curriculum? 

We need to target primary schools. Then focus on secondary schools. The teaching of environmental sciences must be both theoretical and practical. Speaking of practice, we need to get young people to make visits, discoveries, give presentations and, why not, reforest on a regular basis. And finally, the learners should be assessed during the normal assessments. In short, include environmental sciences and even ecology in basic education programmes. Concrete steps in this direction include supporting green clubs in secondary schools; creating environmental competitions; introducing weeks dedicated solely to ecology, not forgetting the introduction of environmental modules in school and university curricula.

Conclusion 

Ultimately, raising awareness and getting young teenagers actively involved in preserving the environment seems to be the ultimate solution for protecting our ecosystem and ensuring a better future for future generations. This solution must be seriously adopted by governments, environmentalists and, why not, nations.