AISB has joined the Eco-Schools environmental education programme to educate our students on the importance of environmental sustainability and climate change, drive sustainability efforts through local community projects and become a more eco-friendly school.
AISB to Join Eco-Schools Programme
The reason that I have brought the Eco-Schools Programme to AISB is because we all know the devastating impact of Climate Change brought about by greenhouse gases, but many of us are not fully aware of our contribution to global warming. The first step is to make all within our community aware of all of our individual and collective impact on the environment, and to create solutions to first lessen our impact, then to hopefully become carbon neutral (have no impact). The Eco-Schools programme will enable us to do this effectively and through collaboration with other schools and organisations.
About the Eco-Schools Programme
The Eco-Schools programme is an environmental education programme for sustainable management in schools, led by students. There are currently more than 50,000 schools in 67 countries worldwide involved in this very important international programme. It will give AISB a roadmap to first become more aware of sustainability in the school organisation, which will then allow the school to set out a road map to improve our use of resources, which in turn will lessen the impact on the environment and reduce our carbon footprint.
Green Flag Award
The Eco-Schools Green Flag is an internationally recognised award for excellence in environmental action and learning. We can work up to our first Eco-Schools Green Flag by achieving Bronze and Silver awards which are self-accredited stepping stones along the way.
There is no time limit for how quickly we need to achieve our Eco-Schools Green Flag after registration, however, on average it takes around one academic year. Schools are then asked to renew their Eco-Schools Green Flag award every two years
Why join Eco-Schools?
Benefits
Our students will learn how to apply what they learn in class to use on field
Improve our school environment management with the power of a whole school approach
Rise an environmental awareness in your students’ hearts and carry it to their home
The School gains a more global reputation from the global recognition award
Students have an opportunity to connect with global networks by joining the Global networking conference with Eco-Schools world-wide
Skills linked to the Seven Steps
Step 1:
Eco Committee Discussion, Delegation, Democracy Motivation, Responsibility, Teamwork
Step 2:
Environmental Review Analysis, Curiosity, Initiative Perspective, Research, investigation
Step 3:
Action Plan Collaboration. Decision making, Innovation, Time planning
Step 4:
Curriculum Links Critical thinking, Focus Literacy, Numeracy
Step 5:
Informing & Involving Active citizenship. Civic engagement, Interaction, Public speaking
Step 6:
Monitoring & Evaluation Analysis, Critical thinking Dedication and determination Problem solving, Reflection
Step7:
Eco-Code Articulation, Creativity Empowerment, Flair
School Roles
The school principle commits to implement the programme
The principle and teachers support students in learning and participating in programme activities
Eco-School programme report.
Next steps for us as a school?
The programme will begin this September, we have registered with ECO-Schools Thailand which is coordinated by the World Wildlife Fund Thailand (WWF). We will work closely with our coordinator at WWF Khun Thitin Hansmutr.
Our key priorities for now include:
1. Set up the AISB Eco Committee
2. The Eco Committee then carries out a school Environmental Review
3. The Eco Committee then sets out an Action Plan to improve the schools
sustainability and lessen the impact AISB has on the environment.
Written by Neil Andrew Robinson, Head of Secondary School, Eco- Schools Head Coordinator. This article also includes information presented by Eco-Schools.