PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In the past, education and training on local and global sustainable development issues have not been adequately addressed in Turkey, and awareness of environmental constraints remains low among the general population . However,now, one of the priority of the National Environmental Action Plan of Turkey is to promote the development of environmental education and training programmes.
OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the project were to build up capacities, transfer know-how, and establish the basis for further developments in the field of education for sustainable development in Turkey. The specific aims of the project were to:
RESULTS
The project beneficiary had already developed a Green Pack, a set of interactive education materials that had been used in several countries. This pack consists of participatory lesson plans concentrating on different environmental topics, which allow the pupils to develop their own ideas and understanding of environmental problems. The target group were children between the ages of 8 and 14. In the context of the LIFE project, the Green Pack was adapted to the Turkish environmental and cultural context.
In contrast to previous Green Pack initiatives, the Turkish Green Pack was drawn up in close co-operation with the Turkish ministry of national education. During the long adaptation process, the experts had to ensure compliance with the requirements of the formal education system. This process ensured a strong endorsement by the Ministry of National Education, which integrated some lesson plans in its official curriculum and made an official communication to all schools recommending the use of the Green Pack material.
During the course of the project, the team carried out the instruction of trainers, which was followed by six regional training events held by the project team and the newly trained trainers. Many of the trainers proved to be very committed ‘multipliers’, who performed more follow-up training than had been initially foreseen. The reception of the Green Pack by pupils and teachers was unanimously enthusiastic, and the Green Pack approach fitted very well into the new educational policy, which aims to move towards a more pupil-centred approach.
At the end of the project, the beneficiary had printed 2,000 copies of the Green Pack, 1600 of which had already been sent to different schools. A follow-up edition is planned during the next two years. The beneficiary had also already planned additional training, aimed at teachers in the south-eastern and Inner Anatolian provinces of Turkey. The project's website is now an important and actively used tool that ensures continued dissemination of information and the long-term sustainability of the Green Pack project. Disclaimer : This « results » section should be considered as a draft until the Commission has completed its evaluation . The project beneficiary had already developed a Green Pack, a set of interactive education materials that had been used in several countries. This pack consists of participatory lesson plans concentrating on different environmental topics, which allow the pupils to develop their own ideas and understanding of environmental problems. The target group were children between the ages of 8 and 14. In the context of the LIFE project, the Green Pack was adapted to the Turkish environmental and cultural context.
In contrast to previous Green Pack initiatives, the Turkish Green Pack was drawn up in close co-operation with the Turkish ministry of national education. During the long adaptation process, the experts had to ensure compliance with the requirements of the formal education system. This process ensured a strong endorsement by the Ministry of National Education, which integrated some lesson plans in its official curriculum and made an official communication to all schools recommending the use of the Green Pack material.
During the course of the project, the team carried out the instruction of trainers, which was followed by six regional training events held by the project team and the newly trained trainers. Many of the trainers proved to be very committed ‘multipliers’, who performed more follow-up training than had been initially foreseen. The reception of the Green Pack by pupils and teachers was unanimously enthusiastic, and the Green Pack approach fitted very well into the new educational policy, which aims to move towards a more pupil-centred approach.
At the end of the project, the beneficiary had printed 2,000 copies of the Green Pack, 1600 of which had already been sent to different schools. A follow-up edition is planned during the next two years. The beneficiary had also already planned additional training, aimed at teachers in the south-eastern and Inner Anatolian provinces of Turkey. The project's website is now an important and actively used tool that ensures continued dissemination of information and the long-term sustainability of the Green Pack project. Disclaimer : This « results » section should be considered as a draft until the Commission has completed its evaluation .
