The Green-Schools programme is based on the principle of sustainable development, and its aim is to promote environmental awareness within schools to the point where it becomes an intrinsic part of the ethos of the school. It goes beyond this to raise environmental awareness in the wider community, as those involved have a positive influence on parents and local business through activities and publicity.
While working on the programme, children learn about environmental issues and about how their behaviour can have either a positive or a negative effect on the environment around them. It fosters a sense of ownership of the environment and it develops their sense of personal and collective responsibility for the care of the environment.
The programme comprises seven essential elements, which must be implemented prior to applying for the green flag. However, it is recognised that each school is different and a wide variety of approaches will be taken in order to implement the seven steps. A school must be registered with An Taisce and show that they have been working on the programme for at least nine months prior to applying for Green-Flag status.
The award must be renewed every two years. Having been awarded their first green flag (dealing with litter and waste minimisation) a school continues to maintain the work done on the first theme and takes on a second theme during the following two years. Again it is important that the school shows that they have worked on the new theme for at least nine months prior to applying for the renewal award.
The themes covered are Energy, Water, and Travel (in that order).
A total of 229 Dublin City schools are currently registered with An Taisce and are working on various stages of the green-schools programme.
The majority of the schools are national primary, 148 schools, and secondary, 57 schools.
There are also 6 third level institutions, 11 Special schools and 7 pre-schools working on the programme.
The breakdown as regards themes being worked on are as follows:
- Litter and Waste 112
- Energy 54
- Water 28
- Travel 21
- Climate Change (pilot) 3
- European and Global Citizenship (pilot) 1
- Biodiversity 10
An Taisce co-ordinate the Green-Schools programme with the support of Local Authorities. In order to register or obtain further information you can log on to their website – http://www.greenschoolsireland.org/ or contact An Taisce, tel: 400 2222 (Green-Schools), 400 2202 (Environmental Education Unit).
Email: greenschools@antaisce.org
For more information on the international programme: http://www.eco-schools.org/
For further information on the Green-Schools programme in Dublin City please contact the Green-Schools Officer, tel: 222 4306 or email greenschools@dublincity.ie.