Ecology is taught in School

19.01.2010

The Project, which is supported by the Norwegian government via the cooperation programme for economic growth and sustainable development, includes 30 schools, and aims at turning them into “green” schools. Specifically, following the project and throughout it, the schools shall adopt technical and administrative actions (such as using alternative energy), as well as educational ones (i.e. classes presenting the utility of a “green”, nature-friendly lifestyle to the pupils).

Alongside the Government of Norway, “Friends of the Earth” (Prietenii Pământului) – title holders -, the National Company for Nature Protection in Norway, the Network for Climate in Romania, as well as seven Romanian NGOs are collaborators in the project.

At the seaside, the Project shall take place in two schools in Medgidia. Here, for a period of 21 months, a whole range of “green” activities will be conducted, such as informing and making the population aware, creating and distributing the information materials, practical activities, as well as attracting local partners in the specific activities started by the environmental protection organisations.

In the case of ConstanţaCounty, one of the most affected ones in terms of pollution, such programme has not been implemented in schools before. “ The training activities will be carried out with the students in the field of renewable energy”, as stated by Ramona Crângaşu, the Chairman Mare Nostrum, an organization involved in the project. The project supported by the Norwegians has April 2011 as a completion deadline.

The initiative is all the more welcome since, as regards the county by the sea, so far there has been no special space reserved for ecology in the academic structure. In short, classes or at least information on environmental protection, the mitigation of pollution effects and promoting a healthy life style.

As a matter of fact, last year, projects were also carried out on ecological topics and involved schools. One of the most significant ones was the new programme for selectively collecting the waste at EU standards. This was designed according to two directions, i.e. educating the population on selectively collecting the waste remains and environmental protection. The first step to that effect was supporting a municipality awareness campaign. Across the town of Medgidia, 42 standard platforms were placed for the selective collection of waste, and each of these ramps had a number of six collecting bins. Paper and plastic baling presses were also purchased, as well as four self-compacting machines for handling the Eurobins and containers of any type. The local authorities hope that at least 30% of the people in the municipality will use the selective waste storage system in 2010. The school – community partnership has so far proved to be particularly useful in the “green” field, mainly thanks to the pupils’ willingness to get involved in “adult business”, as well as the parents’ perceptiveness with regard to social issues, when these issues are judged by their own children.

Online resources:

The Children of Medgidia Chose a Green Christmas

The school in Mahmudia has specialized in ecological education

A school for children with disabilities receives a “Green” certificate

Keywords: ecologyschoolseducationenvironment campaign