UEW RTIA Project Plants 100 Trees to Promote Sustainability in Basic Schools
Researchers implementing the University of Education, Winneba's (UEW) Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa (RTIA) project have planted 100 tree seedlings in 10 basic schools across the Effutu and Agona Nyakrom areas of the Central Region to strengthen sustainability education and promote climate action among teachers and pupils.
The exercise, undertaken on Tuesday, 21st July, 2026, formed part of the project's sustainability education activities after teachers participating in the Professional Learning Communities identified tree planting as a practical way of integrating environmental sustainability into classroom teaching. Each participating school received 10 seedlings comprising mahogany, teak, acacia and other indigenous tree species with teachers and pupils expected to nurture them for future generations.
The beneficiary schools were Winneba M/A JHS, Ayirebi Yankson M/A JHS, Unipra South Inclusive Basic School, Ansaful Basic School, Nyakrom A.M.A "A" and "C" Basic Schools, Salvation Army Basic School, Nyakrom Methodist "A" Basic School, Nyakrom Catholic "A" Basic School and Nyakrom S.D.A. Basic School. Dr. Boniface Yaayin, a member of the RTIA project, supervised the implementation of the exercise in schools within the Agona Nyakrom Municipality.
Prof. Ruby Hanson, the Project Lead, explained that the initiative was designed to help teachers embed sustainability principles in their lessons while responding to the growing threat of climate change.
She noted that trees serve as vital carbon sinks by absorbing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This, she said, helps reduce global warming and its devastating effects including rising sea levels, extreme weather conditions and changing climatic patterns.
Prof. Ruby Hanson stressed that beyond providing oxygen, food and medicine, trees sustain life and therefore require deliberate protection and maintenance. She urged schools to ensure the seedlings are well cared for during the vacation period. She added that the project team would return to assess their survival and growth.
Dr. Sean Higgins, the United Kingdom partner on the project, commended the participating teachers for embracing innovative approaches to sustainability education by integrating scientific and indigenous knowledge into classroom instruction.
He observed that the project had equipped teachers with new knowledge and skills while empowering pupils to become advocates for environmental protection in their schools and communities. He described the children as future agents of change capable of inspiring sustainable practices beyond the classroom.
Dr. Bawa Mbage, a member of the project team, disclosed that the tree planting exercise emerged from recommendations made by teachers during the Professional Learning Community sessions after months of training on integrating sustainability into the existing curriculum.
He expressed appreciation to the project's international partners and participating schools, expressing optimism that the initiative would continue and that the trees would become lasting symbols of sustainability education in the beneficiary schools.
Mr. Bismark Offei Mfaafo, the Municipal Director of Education for Agona West, praised UEW and its partners for extending the initiative to the municipality. He said the project had strengthened teachers' instructional practices while complementing the government's climate change agenda.
He assured the project team that the schools would care for the seedlings to ensure they grow and benefit both the school communities and the nation. He also urged development partners to support similar initiatives to broaden sustainability education in more schools.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary schools, Mavis Arthur, a pupil of Nyakrom A.M.A "A" Basic School, thanked the project team for the donation and pledged that the pupils would nurture the trees to ensure they grow to serve future generations while preserving a healthy environment.
