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The Mukuvisi Woodlands Eco Schools Programme - ‘My Environment, My Future, My Responsibility': Engaging schools in education for sustainable development through School Environmental Clubs For stories, and photos of past Eco Schools Events held at Mukuvisi Woodlands Click HERE To enquire about Eco Schools and how to get involved, email: allainc@zol.co.zw |
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Education plays a vital role in encouraging the sustainable lifestyles required to care for our environment. The Mukuvisi Woodlands Eco Schools Programme aims to achieve sustainable environmental management by integrating environmental education into the national curriculum and empowering teachers and learners to implement environmental policies at school level.
The Eco-Schools Programme follows a model used in over 52 countries worldwide, including South Africa. To meet the challenge of environmental stewardship, capacity building is key to success. The Programme provides school children with hands-on experiences and opportunities to tackle issues and concerns in their own environments. They gain knowledge and develop a positive attitude towards solving environmental problems.Because of their hands-on and self-study components, projects in this Programme allow children to develop skills such as time management, working with people, public speaking, self-motivation, observation, recording data, and classifying and identifying issues. The programme helps foster the development of children's potential by exposing them to new situations. Children stretch their capacity to handle the world, improving their self-image, confidence and autonomy in the process. It also helps inspire children’s interest in and appreciation of their environment. They gain an awareness of burning current environmental issues such as global warming, pollution, wildlife habitat and wetland destruction and loss, deforestation, over-population and poor sanitation, and learn at a young age that these problems are everyone’s problems and that each individual can be part of their solution. This Environmental Education Programme was developed by the Mukuvisi Woodlands Education Unit as an adaptation of the Eco-Schools Programme practised globally. The Programme aims to improve environmental management at the School and facilitate active environmental learning. Schools Environmental Clubs choose a project of their choice from the list of Themes, while teachers draw on these practical projects to strengthen environmental learning at the school. The Programme is linked directly with the Plan of Action outlined in the Millennium Declaration, signed at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, which aims to deliver Agenda 21 Commitments by involving people of all ages and nationalities through formal school education, training of staff and general awareness raising. The Eco-Schools Programme is also in line with the Zimbabwe National Environmental Education Policy and Strategies (July 2004, revised June 2009). This is a Schools Development Programme designed to encourage whole-school learning and action for a healthy environment. To date, over 100 educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities, have subscribed to the Mukuvisi Woodlands Eco Schools Programme, signing up and attending one or more events organised by the Mukuvisi Woodlands or starting a Change Project at their school or both. What the Member Schools do Possible projects
Some Theme and Project Examples
Annual Awards At year end, the Mukuvisi Woodlands Eco Schools Programme does an evaluation of School Project Feasibility and identifies Environmental Steward Award Winners. To be considered, an Eco-Report or School Profile Report must be submitted, containing all of the following, which are the minimum requirements for Eco-Schools status. All components must be clearly labelled. Reports are assessed on the quality and depth of these sections, not only on their presence in the portfolio.
Any educational institution in Zimbabwe, including Early Learning Centres, Primary and Secondary Schools, whether public or private, and Tertiary institutions such as Teacher Training Colleges and Universities are eligible. Teachers need the background to initiate environment clubs as they enter new schools on graduation and deployment. It takes a passionate teacher to lead an environmental club. The administration must give consent and the whole school is expected to participate, including the Teacher–Parent body (SDC/SDA). Registration Form an Eco-Club Write an Eco-Code Carry out an environmental audit and choose a Theme The Club Patron, usually a teacher, liaises with Club Members to identify a problem around their theme and suggest possible solutions, to be implemented through a practical hands-on Change Project. Plan for Teaching and Learning Plan and Take Action Evaluation criteria for Best Eco Schools Club - Clubs move through these levels:
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Annual Assessment for Awards | ||
Environmental Stewards Certification | To qualify for the overall best Environment Club of the Year | |
Project: | The school based hands-on Change Project is worth | 40% |
Networking: | Activities and involvement contributes |
50% |
New Registration or annual renewal of membership: | Contributes | 10%. |
Mukuvisi Woodlands Environmental Education Programmes: Catering for school children at all levels |
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Pre School |
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Primary School |
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Secondary School |
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Superb Mukuvisi Eco Schools Programme World Environment Day Event held on 10 June 2022 On 10 June 2022, Mukuvisi Woodlands Eco Schools Programme held a highly successful event to commemorate World Environment Day. Enjoy just some highlights in our video at right and Click here to see more photos and videos. With VIP representation from the Ministry of Environment, several representatives of the Environmental Management Agency, a number of exhibitors with display stands, and several hundred school children of all ages, this was a superb environmental education event. It is excellent at last to be able to hold such events once again! The children participated in a quiz competition and a treasure hunt and many young poets and writers recited and read, and some sang, their uplifiting and inspiring works on a wide range of burning environmental issues and concern, affecting both our own country and the planet at large. The Mukuvisi Woodlands Eco Schools Programme is a highly effective environmental education inititive which is a fundamental component of the vital role that the Mukuvisi Woodlands Nature Reserve plays in the community, providing a relaxing area of great natural beauty, home to many species of wildlife, and helping ensure that the next generation understands the urgent need to conserve our natural environment - for the good of all. |