Thiruvananthapuram: In addition to undergraduate students, school students in Kerala are expected to have the option of pursuing a free online course developed by KILA (Kerala Institute of Local Administration) on scientific waste management.

Earlier discussions had explored the inclusion of the MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) ‘Solid Waste Management Systems in Kerala’ in the newly launched four-year degree programme. Meanwhile, over 10,000 school students in the state are involved in waste management initiatives such as the National Service Scheme (NSS) and the National Cadet Corps (NCC). Hence, offering the course to school students is deemed highly beneficial.

The course is accessible through KILA’s e-courses portal and employs an interactive format featuring videos and quizzes. Topics covered include proper waste handling techniques and the legal ramifications of mismanagement.

As the course is pre-recorded, students can access it at their convenience from any location. This flexibility extends participation opportunities to youths, students, and members of local communities, empowering them to disseminate waste management knowledge widely.