On June 20, the unveiling of Georgia’s latest Green Flag Award-winning schools took place. The schools received the award of the World Eco-Schools Program – the Green Flag, as symbolic proof that the schools have achieved significant results in terms of raising environmental education. The award ceremony was held on the territories of the schools, and representatives of the Swedish Embassy and local government attended together with the students of Eco-Committee along the whole school community, as did members of the organization implementing the Eco-Schools program, Keep Georgia Tidy (KGT) and its partner organization.
The Eco-Schools program is an educational program promoting sustainable development through the study of environmental topics in and outside of the classroom – through active action, observation, and research. The program raises students’ awareness of global environmental issues, helping them to become more eco-friendly and responsible citizens.
The Eco-Schools program unites the entire school community, facilitating cooperation between school staff, pupils, and their parents. Students develop teamwork and project management skills.
Through the Eco-schools’ program, young people can change environmental policies around them.
Supported by UNESCO and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Eco-schools’ program is an incentive mechanism linked to the 2015-2030 Sustainable Development Goals and recognized around the world.
In 2020, the organization Keep Georgia Tidy (KGT) with the support of the Swedish government, officially became an associate member of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and the representative of the International Eco-Schools Program at the national level. An action strategy and a step-by-step plan were created, as a result of which implementation, about 500 public schools throughout Georgia were involved in the Eco-schools’ project.
The program of Eco-schools consists of 3 main elements, is based on a 7-step methodology and contains 12 environmental topics. As a result of the successful implementation of the program, schools are given the opportunity to be awarded the Green Flag.
11 of the program’s pilot schools successfully completed the seven-step plan and applied for the Green Flag Award this year.
The Green Flag Award evaluation committee consisted of representatives of specialized ministries and their structural units, as well as representatives of the most active environmental non-governmental organizations and other interested parties. The commission thoroughly studied and evaluated the schools, as a result of which it was decided to award the Green Flag to all the nominated schools, because they are the very first implementers of the Eco-schools’ program in Georgia, and their efforts are very important for the future development and establishment of the program.
First Schools awarded with Green Flags:
- Krtsanisi Public School
- Khurvaleti Public School
- LEPL Gori public School N12
- Pirveli Sviri Public School
- LEPL Kutaisi Public School N17
- Rukhi Public School
- DabaKeda Public School
- Daba Naruji Public School
- Telavi Public School N4
- Shuapkho Public School
- Benara Public School
This is the first, successful result and an opportunity for Georgia to appear on the world map of Eco-schools, where more than 80 member countries of the Environmental Education Foundation are represented.
The worldwide Eco-Schools program is implemented by the organization Keep Georgia Tidy (KGT) together with local and international partner organizations, with the financial support of the Swedish government, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia, and the Center for Environmental Information and Education (CEIE).
