Strategy
The Back to School Programme is a meaningful platform to further the green movement by getting alumni of schools to do their part for their alma mater. These students would help the school attain BCA Green Mark certification and enhance its environmental sustainability programme.
The Back to School Programme is part of BCA’s initiative to enhance student engagement and education in environmental sustainability that aims to groom the next generation of green collar workforce in the following ways:
- Entice-Entice students and schools to come on-board this green building journey, as well as to embark on green building careers through structured internship and mentorship programmes led by BCA officers.
- Employ-Provide students with a platform to employ technical knowledge related to the built environment and management skills learned in school.
- Envoy -Get students to be envoys and vehicles to spread sustainability messages.
The BCA Back to School Programme was formally launched in September 2016. Following its’ launch, the programme has officially be extended to students from other Institutes of Higher Learning and BCA is on its way to extend the programme to interested industry partner to volunteer as mentors for these students. The target is for all mainstream schools in Singapore to improve in the schools infrastructure and environmental programmes, and eventually be awarded the Green Mark certificate through Back to School Programme.
Measure
- up to 3 weeks
Seeking Approval Interns will seek approval from the school principal/management to undertake the Back to School Programme. - ~4 weeks
Gap Analysis + Application
Interns will conduct a physical analysis on:
- School premises, landscape & equipment
- Documents provided, in accordance to the checklist
- Existing curricula framework & programmes offered pertaining to environmental education
- ~4 weeks
Recommendations Strategies will be pitched to the teacher-in-charge or principal on the areas of the school that needs to be strengthened.
+
Execution
Schools shall make the necessary improvements and changes accordingly. - ~1 month
Submission + Assessment
Upon completion of the required suggestions, Interns will conduct a supplementary analysis.
Once all documentation has been fulfilled at best, Green Mark Assessors will be assigned to carry out assessment of the school.
- ~3 weeks
Board Presentation
School personnel and Interns will present about the greening of the school to the BCA Senior Management for further assessment. (only applicable for GoldPLUS & Platinum awardees) - 2-3 weeks
Letter of Award
With successful assessment, the school may be invited to an award presentation ceremony to receive the award. - +
Students involved in the Back to School Programme would be required to carry out the following stages:
From recent past projects, students from Back to School Programme have developed cost effective solutions that have helped many schools to improve their infrastructure and developed useful materials to help schools to step up their environmental education efforts. Some of the measures include:
- Trend-logging and communication of energy and water consumption trends to students and staff;
- Health check on school building system (e.g. checking their AHU room, lighting level);
- Design and creation of a green corner to provide learning materials and conducive environment for self-learning on sustainability issues;
- Implementation of green procurement policy;
- Recommendations on more energy efficient air condition models to look out for
- Provide recommendations and materials to improve school wide sustainability awareness and education; or
- Provide strategies to reduce energy and water consumption through behavioural change.
Performance
During the programmes’ pilot phase, 12 students have been deployed to 10 schools and have successfully assisted these 10 schools in achieving their Green Mark certification.
| Schools | GM Award | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Admiralty Secondary School | Gold |
| 2 | Beatty Secondary School | Gold Plus |
| 3 | Pei Cai Secondary School | Gold |
| 4 | Da Qiao Primary School | Gold Plus |
| 5 | Hong Wen School | Gold Plus |
| 6 | Xinghua Primary School | Gold |
| 7 | Ang Mo Kio Secondary School | Gold |
| 8 | Chung Cheng High School (Main) | Gold |
| 9 | Serangoon Garden Secondary School | Gold |
| 10 | Serangoon Secondary School | Gold |
Having been Green Mark certified after the Back to School Programme, these schools have complied with the Green Mark for Existing Schools criteria and ensured that the following were implemented:
- Health check on school existing building systems;
- Better documentation of school’s equipment and facilities;
- Sufficient environmental sustainability education programmes;
- Initiatives to encourage students to take ownership and lead environmental programmes;
- Healthy Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) is provided in school;
- Energy and water efficient building systems, therefore minimizing utility consumption;
- Sustainable consumption of resources to reduce potential environmental impact, waste and pollution.
Building on the success of this pilot phase, this programme will be officially roll-out to cover all mainstreams schools in Singapore.
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Back to School Students conducting sharing session with school management on Green Buidings, Green Procurement Guide, and Green Practices. -
Back to School Students conducting gap analysis by checking the efficiency of air conditioners before sharing with the schools on more efficient air-conditioners that the school may procure prior during their next round of retrofit. -
Before and after photos of Green Corner at Peicai Secondary School designed by Temasek Polytechnic students involved in the Back to School Pilot Programme in 2015 -
The Back to School students conducting workshops on green buildings and practices for their juniors in schools. -
The Back to School students put up recycling posters designed by students on bins at Hong Wen School as part of the Back to School Programme.