Three ways schools are reducing the planet’s burden 

Ahead of the new academic year, a look at three initiatives by schools in Chennai aimed at reducing the planet’s burden

As parents and students get ready for the new academic year, “wrapping of books in brown paper” seems to be dropping off the list of preparations.

There are city schools that have already done away with this practice as part of being environment-conscious.

It is three years since DAV Group of Schools put an end to this practice. The management had sent circular discouraging the practice of covering books with brown paper or plastic sheets. Now, it is part of the school culture across its 15 schools, says Shanthy Asokan, director-education and innovation, DAV Group of School.

Velammal Group of Schools instructs its students to not wrap the notebooks but prefer the textbooks receive a covering.

“Our notebooks are bright and sturdy and do not need an additional cover but that is not the case with the NCERT books. Laminated sheets are completely discouraged as they are non-biodegradable, but we advise that some paper be used so the textbooks’ shelf life is increased,” says Shyamala Subbu, senior principal, Velammal Vidyalaya, Annexure.

PS Senior Secondary School also did away with this practice a few years ago finding this exercise to be a waste of paper and time for parents.

At Sherwood Hall Senior Secondary School in Harrington Road parents are advised not to wrap the notebooks. Reportedly, to make the sturdy covers appealing to students, effort is taken to print them with inspiring lines and images.