THE ROLE OF MUSIC DANCE AND DRAMA IN CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND RESILIENCE BUILDING.

By Onzoma Albert.

Schools in West Nile have been urged to ensure that music, dance, and drama (MDD) taught in their schools align with environmental protection and measures to mitigate the climate change in the region.

This call was made by the Music and drama teachers, during the regional training of trainer’s workshop organized by the ministry of education and sports in partnership with United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Arua city at Oasis primary school Muni Campus.

The Jonathan Mugenyi, a national curriculum specialist for music dance and drama education, encouraged the music dance and drama teachers to ensure that their students are taught values that align with environmental protection during music dance and drama plays. “We art teachers are using the art to mobilize the society on very important issues and this year we have includes the climate change mitigation initiative theme in our plays which is evident in the whole world, we have to teach our children to mitigate all climate change disasters and we want the children to walk the path of an education when they are well informed about their communities”  

Florence Lagua, the chairperson of Music dance and drama teachers for West Nile region, urged institutions the region to motivate their teachers to drive environmental protection initiatives through music dance and drama in order to inspire and guide learners in mitigating the effects of climate change. “We have to teach our children on how to plant more trees around their areas during music dance and drama such that the children will go home with the concepts they will acquire from during the plays”

Innocent Kassaija, the district chief trainer of Music dance and drama for Koboko district urges the music dance and drama teachers to strive to impart environmental protection knowledge, skills, and values in their students from the early stages. “Since us human beings we are behind the rapid climatic changes in the world we need to find ways of teaching our children learn how to mitigate the effects of climate change through music dance and drama plays such as on how to stop cutting down valuable trees such us Shea nut tree spicies”  
 
Co-curricular activities such as sports, music, dance, drama, and club involvement play a significant role in the lives of students in Ugandan schools.
These activities not only enrich the school experience but also contribute to personal development and community building.

COVER PHOTO: Participants during the training By Onzoma Albert.