This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Eco Schools set to expand
02/09/2002
An expansion of the Scottish Eco-Schools programme was
signalled today with the Executive encouraging more schools
to take up the challenge.
At the Royal School of Dunkeld Education Minister Cathy
Jamieson said she wanted to see an improvement on the 10
per cent of schools who are currently actively involved in
the scheme.
Meanwhile, First Minister Jack McConnell in South Africa
used the established eco-schools e-mail link to send a
message of thanks from Banareng Primary School near
Pretoria to Dunkeld.
On a visit with WWF 'Earth Champion' Stephanie Wiseman,
a 12 year old pupil from Lunnasting Primary in Shetland, he
also announced that Scotland has accepted an invitation to
become a partner in the international eco-schools
programme, alongside the United Nations and European
Commission.
Eco-Schools is an innovative, pupil-driven programme
that encourages schools to improve their environment
through whole-school action and gives them the opportunity
to claim the coveted 'Green Flag' status. It also promotes
links with pupils and schools internationally.
Mr McConnell said:
"Young people everywhere care about the world they live
in - their hometowns, their countries
and places further afield - and they care about the
people they share their world with.
"Eco-schools are a great way of turning their commitment
to the environment into practical action. That is something
we adults must do too in taking decisions which impact on
the world they will inherit. Banareng's pupils and teachers
are a fantastic inspiration to us all.
"I am delighted that Scottish schools are taking a
leading role in these exciting global developments,
including the introduction of the eco-schools programme in
South Africa. Currently, pupils in 295 schools across
Scotland are taking part in improving their
environment.
"I hope that the links between Banareng and the Royal
School of Dunkeld, which have just been set up, will grow
even stronger. I will be meeting the South African Minister
of Education tomorrow to discuss how we develop eco-schools
and create more links.
"Because I believe that broadening the horizons and
experiences of young people in our schools
and between our schools will make Scotland and South
Africa better places to live."
Speaking at Dunkeld, a 'Green Flag' school, Ms Jamieson
said:
"In the future, our young people will live with the
impact of decisions taken today. So it is crucial we
encourage them to make their voice heard in environmental
discussions.
"The Earth Summit in 1992 recognised that young people
are the key to the success of long term positive
environmental changes. That message is coming over loud and
clear from South Africa this week.
"The Eco Schools programme is an excellent and fun way
for young people to make a difference. It has taken root in
Scotland - almost 300 schools already take part - but I
want to see more schools actively involved.
"That is why we offer funding to schools who want to
participate and why, from today, we are making a video
about Eco Schools available to any school interested in
finding out more.
"Values and citizenship are key aspects of our National
Priorities in Education, which all local authorities are
developing. Achieving Eco School status is one way of
demonstrating practical involvement in promoting
citizenship and environmental awareness. I am pleased that
some local authorities have already said they want all
their schools to become Eco Schools.
"As well as achieving the award, those involved will
leave a lasting legacy of changes to the way the school
works - as some of the pupils here have defined,
sustainable development is about not taking more out of the
world than you can put back in."
Most pupils in Banareng come from an informal settlement
beside a landfill site. They helped transform the grounds
of the school from waste ground to bright gardens. They are
now used to provide free school meals for 670 children,
raise money and as an outdoor classroom.
The pupils have found out about growing vegetables,
looking after land and water, and recycling, and they have
passed on what they know to other people in their
community.
The Eco Schools programme first came to the UK in 1995.
It is managed in the UK by ENCAMS (formerly called the Tidy
Britain Group) and in Scotland, by Keep Scotland Beautiful
(KSB). The SITA Environmental Trust, through the landfill
tax credit scheme, has committed well over £1million of
funding to the scheme.
To date, 31 Scottish schools have achieved Green Flag
status, the highest level of award.
Scotland will host a major conference of Eco-schools
co-ordinators from around the world this autumn to discuss
how the programme can further be developed.