Eco-Schools is a programme for environmental management, certification, and sustainable development education for schools. Its holistic, participatory approach and combination of learning and action make it an ideal way for schools to embark on a meaningful path for improving the environments of schools and their local communities, and for influencing the lives of young people, school staff, families, local authorities, NGOs, and more.
How it works
The Eco-Schools programme involves seven steps that any school can adopt. Based on the elements of an environmental management programme, the process involves a wide range of stakeholders, but it is the pupils who play the most important role.
The seven steps include the establishment of an Eco-Schools Committee to organize and direct the activities of the school. Once a Committee is established an Environmental Review is done and an Action Plan established to set achievable targets and deadlines for improving the school’s environmental performance. To ensure that progress is made and that achievements are celebrated, Monitoring and Evaluation are done. This also ensures that environmental care and education is an ongoing process. Certain themes are studied in the classroom through Curriculum Work, and the whole school should be involved in practical initiatives. The step of Informing and Involving brings the local community and Local Agenda 21 into the process. Schools are encouraged to make outside contacts and ties to enhance their learning experience and to inform the wider public about their activities. And each school develops its own Eco-code, outlining the school’s values and objectives and what the students are striving toward.
After a period of participation, an evaluation of the success of these initiatives and the methodology is undertaken, and the whole Eco-Schools programme for each school is assessed. Successful schools are awarded with the Eco-Schools Green Flag.
The Benefits
Eco-Schools is a democratic and participatory programme that provides an excellent opportunity for pupils to experience active citizenship in school and take decisions to improve both their school and home environments. It strives to increase environmental awareness of pupils, staff and communities and to improve school environments through this. Actions taken during the programme can also lead to financial savings for the school regarding energy and water consumption costs. Eco-School strives for the involvement of local stakeholders, resulting in a more integrated community. The schools are given the opportunity to create links with other schools, nationally and internationally, giving them the chance to share environmental education ideas and creating a means for cultural exchange and language improvement.
About Eco-Schools
