Encouraging environmental education in schools

Education Minister Trevor Mallard today released ground-breaking
research on environmental education practice, which will be a
significant resource for schools.

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Education Minister Trevor Mallard today released ground-breaking
research on environmental education practice, which will be a
significant resource for schools.

"This report will be an excellent resource for schools who want to
develop their own environmental education programmes. It will also
provide important lessons for school-based development of the national
curriculum for programmes in other special focus areas," Trevor Mallard
said.

Environmental Education in New Zealand Schools: Research into Current
Practice and Future Possibilities, from the New Zealand Council for
Educational Research and Waikato University, is the first major national
study on environmental education in New Zealand schools.

"There is significant interest in the research report from the national
and international environmental education community," Trevor Mallard
said.

"The research shows many schools are giving their students the skills
they need to contribute to a sustainable future for New Zealand.

"I am impressed with the commitment of teachers and students who are
undertaking truly amazing projects, such as reforesting a local island.
These projects are leading to real environmental change and what's also
impressive is that students are leading many of these changes.

"The work of Kamo Intermediate students to restore their school
environment by creating "Islands of Life" in the school grounds was so
successful that in 2002 the school was chosen as a finalist in an
international young environmentalist competition. Now the students and
teachers have developed systems to sustain their project including a
greenhouse for native seedlings, composting and wormfarming.

"Another exciting development is some secondary schools, such as
Christchurch Girls' High School, working towards National Certificate of
Educational Achievement (NCEA) programmes focused on environmental
education and sustainability."

Trevor Mallard said many schools had tapped into their community's
skills and resources to give their environmental programmes real impetus
and relevance.

"It's clear from the report that for environmental education to provide
immediate and lasting benefits, there needs to be a whole-school
commitment to planning and integration, rather than relying on one or
two enthusiastic teachers to drive environmental change.

Trevor Mallard launched the report at Wilton's Otari School, which is
involved in composting, recycling and worm farming and has also embarked
on a year-long project to preserve its local stream.

"Students are actively engaged with local authorities, teachers and
parents so they can define the problems and devise and implement
solutions including educating their community about stream care.

"This government has made its own commitment to environmental education
in schools by establishing regional co-ordinators to work with teachers
and schools to develop and implement their environmental education
vision. This report will give some strong direction and focus to their
work," Trevor Mallard said.

The four-volume report can be found at:
www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/eereports