A large part of PBRC and NEEC’s work is to help raise the academic standard of the school while simultaneously providing environmental education and ensuring sustainable development of the area's sensitive TDEF region.

So far twenty young teachers have been trained in innovative teaching methods and they are taking their environmental education teaching skills to twenty schools in the Kaliveli bioregion.  

Building on the first pilot project 'My Pond', a second curriculum package on 'Trees' was developed incorporating educational material from C.P Ramaswamy, Centre for Environment Education, Auroville School as well as resources developed onsite at NEEC.

TDEF vegetation and its history, uses, and need for conservation is one of the main focuses of the package.

Nine Schools around Nadukuppam are taking part, including one high school, two middle schools and six primary schools; with 150 students receiving direct contact with NEEC staff and a further 2000 students gaining environmental awareness indirectly.

This curriculum is focused at middle level to make it as accessible as possible to all age groups.

The response from headmasters, teachers, parents, community people and students has been extremely positive.

The program has incorporated the use of exposure visits for the schools to the local remnant forest at Kurumpuram and visits to the ethno-medicinal forest at PBRC, as well as the NEEC demonstration garden. 

Each school have received a minimum of 18 to 24 intensive classes that have included topics such as 'Water Cycle', 'Traditional History of TDEF' and 'Importance of Conservation'.