MNS-ABN-AMRO-WWP RIVER AND WATER AWARENESS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMME FOR SCHOOLS IN PENANG
PART A: NARRATIVE REPORT
1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1 Reference No. WW1-WWP/07
1.2 Project Title: River and water awareness and education programme for schools in Penang
1.3 Project Site: Sg Air Terjun Catchment, Georgetown, Penang
1.4 Grant Recipient: Water Watch Penang (WWP)
1.5: Person in charge and title: Prof Dr Chan Ngai Weng, President WWP
1.6: Project Start and completion dates: 1 October 2007 – 30 September 2008
1.7: Project Report Date: 25 February 2008
2.0 PROJECT BACKGROUND
2.1 General Objectives: To increase awareness and education of the importance of river and water amongst teachers and lower secondary students/youths in Penang State.
2.2 Specific Objectives:(i) To increase awareness and education of the importance of river and water amongst youths in Penang State via monthly talks at schools followed by hands-on experience of river water monitoring and visiting water and wastewater treatment plants.(ii) Training of Trainers (TOT) - To train a group of teachers to become facilitators who will be qualified to teach the monitoring of river water quality and explain water and wastewater treatment processes.(iii) To monitor the fluctuation of river water quality of selected rivers in Penang State using selected students and teachers each month. Results of water quality the selected rivers will be uploaded on a website.(iv) To inculcate a sense of responsibility amongst school children in terms of the value of water, water use and the commitment to do something to protect water catchments, rivers and water resources, and to change people’s lifestyle from water wasting to water saving.
2.3 Outputs:
| Expected Output (s) | Actual Output (s) | Remark (s) |
| (i) To increase awareness and education of the importance of river and water amongst youths in Penang State via monthly talks at schools followed by hands-on experience of river water monitoring and visiting water and wastewater treatment plants. | Achieved this objective of increasing awareness and education so far for 3 schools: (i) 27/10/08 - St Xavier’s Institution (2 teachers & 36 students, see attached copy); (ii) 12/01/08 - SMK Convent Green Lane (2 teachers & 31 students); and 23/02/08 – SMK Sama Gagah (3 teachers & 37 students) | Teachers and students learnt a lot and enjoyed the outdoor experience very much, to the extent that they enquired about future similar trips for their respective schools. WWP has asked the participants to fill in an evaluation form. We have yet to analyse the results. We will do so towards the end of the project. |
| (ii) Training of Trainers (TOT) - To train a group of teachers to become facilitators who will be qualified to teach the monitoring of river water quality and explain water and wastewater treatment processes. | So far, we have trained 4 WWP members to handle this project: Hong Chern Wern, Noor Asyikin Bt Abd Razak, Tan Han Khim and Tan Kah Hing; and 7 teachers from 3 schools have been trained in the project. They are: Miss Margarita Malayapillay & Ms X From St Xavier’s Institution; Pn Choo Sook Chan and Pn Ng Lee Lee of SMK Convent Green Lane; En. Ramli, Pn Hafiah Bt Kassim & Pn Chokrista Anidam from SMK Sama Gagah). | The 4 WWP members have undergone extensive training on physical, chemical and biological monitoring of river water quality. The 7 teachers, however, were only trained during the programme on the day itself. To re-enforce their learning, they were given books, VCDs and other materials to help them. Ms X – Sorry forgot this teacher’s name. |
| (iii) To monitor the fluctuation of river water quality of selected rivers in Penang State using selected students and teachers each month. Results of water quality the selected rivers will be uploaded on a website. | First part of this objective was achieved. However, only the Sg Air Terjun was monitored as it was a safe and convenient river to take kids into. Other rivers are inaccessible and dangerous. The second part of the objective was not attainable because many schools did not have websites. | WWP will upload the results of the river water quality monitoring programme on our website. (In April 2008) |
| (iv) To inculcate a sense of responsibility amongst school children in terms of the value of water, water use and the commitment to do something to protect water catchments, rivers and water resources, and to change people’s lifestyle from water wasting to water saving. | Achieved as far as those who have participated so far. | - |
3.0 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
| Activities | Date/Venue | Participants | Remarks | ||
| Planned | Actual | Planned | Actual | ||
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for St Xavier’s Institution (2 teachers & 30 students) | Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for St Xavier’s Institution (2 teachers & 36 students) | 27/10/07 | 27/10/07 | 1 school with 2 teachers & 36 students | Great sunny day. Objectives achieved. |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Convent Green Lane (2 teachers & 30 students) | Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Convent Green Lane (2 teachers & 31 students) | 12/01/08 | 12/01/08 | 1 school with 2 teachers & 31 students | Good weather. However, one girl was a vegetarian and could not eat the nasi lemak provided. WWP will provide some vegetarian food in future. |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Sama Gagah (2 teachers & 30 students) | Did not give Talk in School (distance too far from field site) but River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant were carried out (involved 3 teachers & 37 students) | 23/02/08 | 23/02/08 | 1 school with 2 teachers & 37 students | Good day with good weather. However, the entire programme was well executed without problems. |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Georgetown (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In March 2008 | 08/03/08 | Date will have to be shifted due to clash with General Election Date | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in March 2008 | In March 2008 |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Phor Tay (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In March 2008 | 22/03/08 | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in March 2008 | In March 2008 | |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Batu Kawan (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In March 2008 | 22/03/08 | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in March 2008 | No funding to take on this school. May have to postpone to 2009 if extra funds are not obtained.* | |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Sungai Ara (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In April 2008 | 02/04/08 | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in April 2008 | In April 2008 | |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Jalan Damai (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In April 2008 | 12/04/08 | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in April 2008 | In April 2008 | |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Kampong Kastam (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In April 2008 | 12/04/08 | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in April 2008 | No funding to take on this school. May have to postpone to 2009 if extra funds are not obtained. | |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Agama (P) Almashoor (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In April 2008 | 12/04/08 | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in April 2008 | No funding to take on this school. May have to postpone to 2009 if extra funds are not obtained. | |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for Penang Free School (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In April 2008 | 19/04/08 | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in April 2008 | No funding to take on this school. May have to postpone to 2009 if extra funds are not obtained. | |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMJK Perempuan China Pulau Pinang (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In May 2008 | 10/05/08 | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in May 2008 | In May 2008 | |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Air Itam (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In June 2008 | 12/06/08 | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in June 2008 | In June 2008 | |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In June 2008 | 14/06/08 | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in June 2008 | In June 2008 | |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK Mengkuang (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In June 2008 | 14/06/08 | Expected 1 school with 2 teachers & 30 students in June 2008 | No funding to take on this school. May have to postpone to 2009 if extra funds are not obtained. | |
| Give Talk in School & River water monitoring, river clean-up & visit water treatment plant for SMK St Georgetown (2 teachers & 30 students) | Not yet done. In August 2008 | 09/08/08 | |||