Possible way to “Environmental school in Europe / International Agenda 21-School”

Following steps are recommended to schools that want to improve their quality in long-term way and consider education for sustainable development (ESD) to be a significant focus of their profile. 

1. Establishment of Eco-Schools Committee (e.g. Eco-Schools committee)
It should consist of preferably many different groups of school community, e.g. schoolgirls, schoolboys, teachers, parents, janitor, secretariat, canteen staff. The Eco-Schools committee shall plan and evaluate all activities and measures of “Environmental school in Europe / International Agenda 21-School”. This refers to the core of participative process in schooling and school life aiming at a school profile creation.

2. Current state determination (e.g. Sustainability report)
Overview of environmental situation as well as ascertainment of sustainable processes in the school including potential cooperation with out-of school facilities and borough or municipality within local Agenda 21 process belong to environmental review.

3. Outlining a “Who-does-what-till-when-Programme” (Action plan)
Ascertainment of environmental situation and sustainability situation leads to formulation of spheres of activity that shall be processed preferentially. The action plan formulates achievable goals, denominates responsibilities and sets indicators and deadlines that make goal achievement revisable.

4. Progress review (Self-Evaluation)
Monitoring shall be present in whole process and provide with feedback about successes or failings. Evaluation shows whether environmental review is realistic or it must be changed or modified.

5. Sustainable development in the framework of schooling and school life
This step is aiming at implementation of own set action objectives in the framework of education for sustainable development and assertion of more environmental compatibility and sustainability at school.

6. Informing and involving of out-of-school groups
School life is a part of life in a borough or in a municipality. Involving the out-of-school partners and cooperation with out-of-school facilities refers to a significant part and quality criterion of “Environmental school in Europe / International Agenda 21-School”.

7. Developing and publishing the general principles
Here it is the matter of formulation of common objectives for schooling and school life as well as for work on plans and projects.

Source:
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Umwelterziehung (DGU) (Hrsg.) (2010): Umweltschule in Europa/Internationale Agenda 21-Schule. Mantelbogen Auszeichnungsprogramm. Schwerin.