Education for a Better Planet

ECOSCHOOLS PROGRAM 1999-2003

SUMMARY
The Ecoschools Program works with 13 primary schools in Bahía de Caráquez to raise awareness of the local and global environment. The program focuses on student and teacher training which generates action to create a better environment for themselves and future generations. Themes are chosen each year and all 13 schools cover the same subjects.

BACKGROUND
The Ecuadorian education system is based on a system of educational reform which began in 1998. It was intended to improve the archaic system, eliminate education by memorization, and develop logical and creative thinking.
The reform has been partially successful but requires much more time and follow up to truly create change. Teachers by nature teach as they were taught, and so it requires a new generation of teachers to bring about this change. Part of the reform stated that environmental education should be included as an integral part of education, that it should not be taught as an individual subject, but instead, integrated into all subjects. In theory this sounds adequate, but the obstacle is that there is no training provided for teachers to first learn, and then afterward to transmit this knowledge.
The Ecoschools program is not only for the children, but for the teachers as well. A whole generation of teachers is being exposed to new information and experiences, which are then passed on to the next generation of teachers. This transfer of information allows the program to perpetuate itself.

OPPORTUNITY
The Ecoschools Program began almost parallel with the conversion of the Camaronera Bahía to an organic shrimp farm. It was created to take advantage of a unique combination of these two projects, and because of the huge educational potential that existed. There are many foreign volunteers with backgrounds in the environmental field who are seeking opportunities to help in environmental education. Volunteers are carefully recruited and trained each school year to assist in the program. The program’s initial focus was on the organic shrimp farm operation, composting, and agroecology. It has since evolved to a focus on general environmental and ecocity education. The young people who have participated in the program will be the next generation of ecoresidents of Bahía, ensuring a new respect for and care of their ecological inheritance and the continuation of these projects.

KEY FACTORS AND CONTENTS OF PROGRAMS

Phase One: 1999-2001
Theme: Recycling of organic matter, agroecology and worm farming, tropical dry forest and reforestation, Saiananda Park
One thousand seven-hundred school children were taken on a field trip, first to the market place to see the process of the separation of organic material, then to Encarnación Farm where they learned about the composting process and how they could compost at home. The students learned about the importance of organic farming and were able to observe permaculture techniques and worm farming. After which, they visited the tropical dry forest on the farm and each class planted a tree. From there the students continued on to a neighboring private park, Saiananda, where they could see and interact with many species of animals.

Phase Two: 2002
Theme: Ecocity education
The following questions were addressed:
• What does it mean to be an Ecocity and how can Bahía become more ecologically involved?
• How can we better manage our waste matter?
• What can children do to help create an ecocity and to look after our environment?
In addition, paper recycling was taught, and each class was set up with boxes for collecting paper, and five recycling groups were organized to collect the paper weekly from the schools.

Phase Three: 2003
Theme: Tropical dry forest
Species of plants and animals are taught, and a field trip to a local dry forest reserve is conducted.

STATUS
The program is recognized by the Ministry of Education on a local level and has received attention from both local and regional press and radio. An average of 900 children from 13 schools benefit from this program each year. The aim is to increase the number of schools and include high schools in the program.