Minister of Education Dr. Aishath Ali has said environment friendly practices cannot be familiarised without decreasing the tax incurred on alternatives of plastics, although tax incurred from plastics products have been increased.
Addressing the ceremony held to celebrate the World Oceans Day 2019, Education Minister Aishath Ali stated the use of plastics can be reduced once the alternatives to plastics are used. In this regard, she expressed to increase the use of alternatives the public needs to be made aware on the alternatives which can be used in addition to reducing the tax incurred on such products. She highlighted while the tax on plastic products have increased, the tax obtained from the substitutes have not decreased.
Furthermore, the education minister expressed the positive result of environment related activities initiated in schools will be if conducted sustainably. The minister also said the environment related activities in schools familiarise and aware the students on the negative impacts. Therefore, the minister reiterated it is important to create awareness among students within the education system.
On conclusion, the minister highlighted 83 schools in Maldives have collected 30 tonnes of plastic waste under the initiation with Parley for the Oceans.