ECO-SCHOOLS // ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY SCHOOL

Eco-Shcools/Environment Friendly School

As NUN Primary School we enrolled in the international Eco-Schools program in the 2018-2019 academic year. The main focus is "WATER" with subtitles such as "Water", "Water Saving", "Water Resources" and "Drinking Water Features". We prepared a program with the participation of all teachers. We followed the focus of this program for 2 years and applied it with our students. At the beginning of this year, we came together with our teachers again and prepared our 1-year program consisting of different activities on the same subject and we reported our activities to the Eco-Schools coordinator for 2 years with evidence (with photos and videos). In the program, our aim is creating awareness in and around the school, obtaining love of nature and developing as a result of these studies.

          Our school won a green flag by implementing activities related to "energy" during the 2016-2017/2017-2018 academic years.

What is the Eco-School Program?

Eco-Schools program is a program applied to provide environmental awareness, environmental management and sustainable development education in kindergarten, primary and secondary schools. With a participatory approach, students at schools both learn about environmental issues and take an active role in raising awareness of their families, local administrations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on environmental issues. Eco-schools go beyond teaching in the classroom and play a role in ensuring environmental awareness in other parts of the society. The program includes a holistic school activity for the environment, and its success in the schools depends on the interest of the school administration and teachers, especially the school principal. The most important and integrating factor in the Eco-Schools program is the student participation. The efforts of the committee to raise awareness of local people and administrators ensure that students develop their dialogue skills and provide a good citizenship education.

A Program and a Reward Plan

Eco-Schools program offers schools a guiding program on environmental education. It also gives Green Flag awards to the schools that have achieved outstanding success with their work and environmental education. The Green Flag is an eco-label that symbolizes the internationally recognized and respected, environmentally conscious school. The validity period of the award is 2 years thus, the award must be renewed every two years. Eco-Schools is a long-term program. Information about the Green Flag award application is also provided.

What are the Benefits of the Project for Students?

• The student is a group member and develops an identity.
• The student gets used to group work and creates a participatory structure.
• The student develops the ability to recognize problems, produce solutions and discuss them.
• The ability to take initiative and make decisions develops.
• The ability to plan develops.
• Consumption habits change, waste is prevented.
• Research, reporting and observation skills in children develop within the school; It develops the feelings of taking responsibility and sharing.
• Water is very important for the vital activities and children are made aware of this importance.
• Careless use of water resources creates negative effects, and one of the most important precautions for this situation is to raise our children responsibly.