From creating a school garden to fighting plastic waste and implementing energy-saving measures—initiatives for sustainable development in Swiss schools are numerous and diverse. Against this background, a programme that helps bring these initiatives together in a coherent fashion and allows for further improvement can be of real benefit. The Eco-Schools programme offers a framework and a methodology that helps schools engage in a long-term approach to education for sustainable development (ESD).

 

 

BEING PART OF THE ECO-SCHOOLS NETWORK IS ABOUT:

LEARNING AND TAKING ACTION

Based on real-life situations and through the Seven Steps Methodology, Eco-Schools contributes to a practical and continuous improvement of schools in terms of (education for) sustainable development.

PARTICIPATE IN A DYNAMIC OF JOINT ACTION

The programme brings the school community together around a shared project, transforming the school into a place of reflection, cooperation and action.

IMAGINING AND EXPERIMENTING

By questioning their habits, students become responsible actors who are able to act locally.

BEING RECOGNISED

Eco-Schools rewards and celebrates the efforts and the great work accomplished by students, teachers and school boards—a true source of motivation!

 BEING SUPPORTED

Schools benefit from educational and methodological resources and tools as an effective support for the realisation of their ESD projects.

OPENING UP TO THE WORLD AND CREATING BRIDGES

Schools are part of the national and international Eco-Schools network, with the possibility of exchanges, sharing experiences and developing joint projects.

BE AT THE TOP IN ESD

Eco-Schools is supported by the UNESCO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and linked to the Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030.

 

Furthermore, recent studies from various countries (England, Belgium, France [see here], Ireland [see here], Northern Ireland, etc.) highlighted the impact and the numerous benefits brought by the Eco-Schools programme to the participating schools. These include social and environmental benefits, an increased student involvement and a general improvement of the living conditions within the school community.

 

In 2019, the HundrED organisation ranked the Eco-Schools programme among the 100 most innovative educational projects in the world.