Malanginspirasi.com – In an effort to foster sustainable schools, a team of lecturers and students from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the State University of Malang (UM) conducted a community service program or Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat (PKM) at MAN 5 Jombang. The event, themed “The 4R Method (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Replace) in Waste Management: Enhancing Environmental Literacy for Sustainable Schools,” showcased UM’s commitment to applying the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, particularly in the realm of community service.
The team, comprising Dr. Novika Adi Wibowo, M.Pd., Alfyananda Kurnia Putra, S.Pd., M.Pd., and Mochammad Tri Herwanto, M.Pd., along with four UM students, successfully implemented the program at MAN 5 Jombang.
This school was chosen for its significant potential to develop environmentally based educational programs. The activity was attended by all grade XI students and accompanying teachers from various subjects.
The event began with a welcoming speech from the Headmaster of MAN 5 Jombang, who expressed appreciation for the presence of the UM team. He underscored the importance of collaboration between higher education institutions and secondary schools in fostering a culture of environmental literacy.
The Headmaster also expressed hope that the program would equip students with practical knowledge to be applied both within the school premises and at home. This partnership aims to strengthen the relationship between the academic world and secondary education.
Dr. Novika Adi Wibowo, the main speaker, presented the basic concepts of environmental literacy and the importance of waste management in schools. He began by introducing various environmental issues faced by communities at both local and global levels. One of the main focuses was the plastic waste crisis and its impact on ecosystems.
He stressed that environmental literacy is not just about knowledge but also about attitudes and skills to take environmentally friendly actions.
The 4R method was explained in detail to the participants.
Reduce emphasizes the importance of minimizing the use of single-use items, such as using tumblers for drinking water.
Reuse encourages the reuse of items that are still usable, such as the practice of ecobricks.
Recycle introduces the concept of recycling waste into new, valuable products, demonstrated through the use of ecoenzymes.
Replace highlights the importance of substituting plastic or hazardous products with environmentally friendly alternatives.
Additionally, students of MAN 5 Jombang were taught to distinguish types of waste through labeling practices.
During the interactive session, participants were asked to identify the types of waste most commonly produced in the school environment. Students then discussed solutions based on the 4R principles to address these waste issues.
This activity aims to build an educational ecosystem that focuses not only on academics but also on character development and social awareness.
According to Dr. Novika, such activities are crucial for raising environmental awareness from an early age. Environmental education should be conducted in an engaging and interactive manner so that students can understand and apply environmental values in their daily lives.
Through this initiative, MAN 5 Jombang is expected to serve as a model for a sustainable, environmentally conscious school.
