Teacher Training Curriculum on Environmental Issues | Seite 23

first hand is encouraged. The purchase of materials, the way in which the school premises are used in terms of sustainability and the school’s energy consumption should have a given place in school life. In short, our objective is to reduce ecological footprints. There are two well-known options to a whole school approach: Option A: The Eco-Schools Programme, which is a European wide education programme coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (www.ecoschools.global/). Each country involved then has its own programme run by a lead organisation. In England it is www.ecoschools.org.uk The structure of Eco-Schools enables schools to not only learn about sustainability issues but then engage in practical activities and action in school through a simple coordinated framework. Eco-Schools Framework, Process and Topics The focus of this simple framework is the Eco-Committee or action team, comprising a representative sample of people from across the school community. There should be more pupils on the group than adults. For younger children a formal group like this might not be appropriate so their views and ideas should be gained from other participation techniques such as circle time or small group work. This Eco-Committee drives forward the process in school and act as the conduit to share information with the wider school. Schools should first undertake the environmental review (available from the Eco-Schools websites), this highlights key issues and opportunities for practical action in school. From here a simple action plan should be produced (templates available) which should highlight short term and longer term opportunities which should where possible involve the whole school community. The Eco-Code is a statement of the schools‟ values. It can be a poem; song; rap; painting. It‟s up to the school to decide which format it should take. Once schools have spent some time working through their action plan (perhaps six months as a minimum) schools can apply for an award. In the UK these include bronze; silver and then Green Flag (this may not be the case in all countries). Below is a list for the eight project country contacts: CZECH REPUBLIC ITALY TEREZA Educational Centre FEE Italy TEREZA, vzdelavaci centrum FEE Italia National Operator: Jan Smrcka National Operator: Andrea Rinelli Mail: ekoskola@terezanet.cz Mail: a.rinelli@eco-schools.it POLAND Environmental Partnership Foundation Fundacja Partnerstwo dla Srodowiska National Operator: Agnieszka Pabis Mail: programsde@gmail.com PORTUGAL FEE Portugal Associacao Bandeira Azul da Europa National Operator: Margarida Gomes Mail: margaridagomes@abae.pt 23 LITHUANIA Lithuanian Green Movement Lietuvos Zaliuju Judejimas National Operator: Renaldas Rimavicius Mail: blueflag@zalieji.lt ROMANIA Carpathian-Danubian Centre of Geoecology Centrul Carpato-Danubian de Geoecologie National Operator: Cornelia Dinca Mail: ccdgro@gmail.com