KUCHING: SMK Bandar Sibu, Sibu and SK Dua Sungai, Mukah each walked away with RM5,000 cash prize, the challenge trophy and certificate of achievement when they were announced as the winners of the Special Star Award in the secondary and primary categories during the presentation of the State-level of the Environmental – Friendly School Award Presentation or ‘Anugerah Sekolah Rakan Alam Sekitar’ (SERASI), held at Riverside Majestic Hotel here yesterday.
The Special Star Award Category was opened to al l previous Environmental –Friendly School Award winners or champions. In the Overall SERASI Award Category, SJK Chung Hua Pujut, Miri and SMK St. Anthony, Sarikei walked away with RM4,000 cash prizes, plaque and certificate of achievement. In the Best Environmental Management Component Award Category, SK Long Spelling, Baram and SMK Pending, Kuching each went home with RM3,000 cash prize, plaque and certificate of achievement.
In the Bes t Env i ronment Awareness Efforts Component Award Category, SJK (C) Chung Hua Miri and SMK St. Patrick Mukah each walked away with RM3,000 cash, plaque and certificate of achievement. In the Best Green School Component Award Category, SJK (C) Min Daik, Bintangor and SMK St. Joseph, Kuching took home RM3,000 cash prize, a plaque and certificate of achievement each. In the Bes t Envi ronment , Beautification and Cleanliness School Ground Component Category, SJK (C) Chung Hua Simanggang, Sri Aman and SMK St. Columba, Miri took home RM3,000 cash prize, plaque and certificate of achievement.
SJK (C) Tung Hua, Sibu was presented with a special plaque with the signature of the Chief Minister in recognition of being an exemplary school. The winners of the newly introduced Best SERASI Teacher Award were Hartini Binti Kipli of SK Dua Sungai, Mukah, and Linda Yip Soon Liang of SMK Sacred Heart, Sibu. Both bagged RM1,000 cash prize, plaque and certificate of achievement. The Best SERASI Teacher Award winner Mohd Yusuf bin Abdul Ghani, the winner in the SERASI Logo Design was also given recognition.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Haji Awang Ali Hasan, who is also Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources II, and Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development represented the Chief Minister at the prize presentation ceremony of the State-level SERASI Award Presentation 2016/2017 held at Riverside Majestic Hotel here yesterday.
SERASI is an educational programme aimed at spreading environmental awareness and protection to schools in Sarawak, in partnership with Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources, National Resources and Environment Board (NREB), Depa r tment o f Educ a t i on, Department of Environment, Shell and other government agencies.
For the 2016/2017 season, 676 schools from Sarawak, comprising 100 secondary and 576 primary schools-going children competed in seven categories – SERASI Star Award, Overall SERASI Winner, Best Environmental Management, Best Environmental Awareness Efforts, Best Green School, Best Clean and Beautiful School Ground and the newly introduced Best SERASI Teacher Award.
Judging is done biennially, and prizes are rewarded based on presentations, creativity and sustainability of the initiatives, which may include landscaping, recycling, composting and cleanliness campaigns. Since its inception, about 1,500 schools have taken part in the SERASI programme which rewards schools for outstanding environmental initiatives.
