“We are surrounded by pollution, and it’s up to us to take action and protect our environment before it’s too late,” says Swastika Ghorai, a 17-year-old student at Narayanpur High School.

Located in the East Kolkata Wetlands of Bhangar, Narayanpur High School, once disconnected from environmental issues, is now leading by example. The school’s initiatives focus on promoting ecological awareness and sustainability.

The change is driven by Avijit Dasgupta, the 48-year-old headmaster. When he took charge in 2019, the school was focused solely on textbooks and exams, with little regard for real-world challenges.

His focus was to tackle pressing local issues like child trafficking, early marriages, and drug abuse while instilling an understanding of environmental issues. His curriculum aims to address these challenges through practical learning.

The school’s first steps towards sustainability involved partnering with Kids for Tigers, a programme focused on conserving the Sundarbans and Bengal tigers. This initiative exposed students to vital ecological concerns and encouraged responsibility.

Another significant partnership was with the Namami Gange Programme, which aims to clean and conserve the Ganges River. “Teaching them about the Ganges is teaching them about their own responsibility,” says Avijit.

The school also collaborated with ‘Disappearing Dialogues’, which led to projects on water conservation, waste management, and biodiversity. Students actively worked on solutions to reduce water consumption and waste in their own schools.

Avijit proudly states, “We’ve turned the entire school into a living lab,” with students now participating in activities like naming and cataloguing trees to engage with nature.

The school’s waste management efforts have led to better segregation of waste. "We hold workshops to equip students with practical skills,” says Avijit.

Initially, some parents were concerned that environmental initiatives would distract from academics. “They were worried that environmental initiatives would disrupt regular academic progress,” Avijit recalls.

Over time, the community saw the real impact of these projects. “Now, guardians aren’t just supportive, they’re actively involved,” he adds.

Looking ahead, Avijit plans to expand the school’s environmental programmes and create an exhibition to showcase waste management projects.