Several Grahamstown Eco-Schools were rewarded for their hard work at a ceremony held at the Rhodes University Environmental Learning Research Centre last Friday.
Several Grahamstown Eco-Schools were rewarded for their hard work at a ceremony held at the Rhodes University Environmental Learning Research Centre last Friday.
The schools were awarded various certificates depending on their level of involvement and progress as part of the international Eco-Schools programme, which operates in 51 countries worldwide. It is part of the Foundation for Environmental Education, managed locally by the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa. Locally, 1 200 schools have joined the programme.
Maskhane Combined School and Siyazama Pre-school received bronze certificates. Archie Mbolekwa, Zintle Farm School, St Andrew's College, Samuel Ntlebi, Kuthliso Daniels, Greener Pastures SDA and Riebeeck East received silver certificates. T.E.M Mwretyana received a green certificate and DSG was awarded a gold certificate. Kingswood College, Grahamstown SDA Primary School and Kuyasa Special School received prestigious platinum certificates
Duma Myemane, the principal of Samuel Ntlebi Primary School, was the programme director for this occasion. Professor Rob O'Donoghue was the guest speaker for the day and Rhodes University’s Dean of Education Professor Di Wilmot presented the awards.
The Eco-Schools programme is concerned with improving environmental management and learning at schools. This means that groups of teachers, learners, community members and/ or partner organisations get together and undertake a project to improve some aspect of environmental management at their school.
Ingrid Schudel, the co-ordinator of Eco-Schools, thanked all who attended, saying, “Learner participation in Eco-School activities provides a reason for the existence of the programme. All the certificates were received through hard work and are well deserved.”
