More than 500 teachers of natural sciences successfully completed training in environmental education "Green Pack"
|
Series of 14 training sessions for teachers of natural sciences in primary schools in BiH were the latest activity in the project "Green pack for the Western Balkans" that was successfully implemented.
During these training sessions each school in BiH has received free copies of "Green Pack" on one of the official languages in BiH, precisely in the language and script used in the school. It is assumed that over 100,000 students will be familiar with the Green Pack.
In this final phase of the project, training sessions for schools from Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Pale, Kiseljak, Central Bosnia Canton, Doboj, Una-Sana canton, Brcko, Bijeljina and Posavina Canton, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and West Canton Livno, Trebinje, Ljubinje, Nevesinje and Gacko, then regions of Banja Luka, Bratunac, Gorazde, Foca, Bosnia and Zenica-Doboj Canton were successfully held.
Teachers from 610 primary schools in BiH were invited on the training for the purpose of training and materials takeover. All training sessions were rated with the best grades and what is visible from the results, and from the comments, is that teachers are extremely pleased with the information and methodology given in the Green Pack and the way in which the Green Pack was presented in training. Most of all training participants stressed the need to adapt this material to lower grade of primary schools (primary classes from I to V).
Green Pack is an innovative multimedia kit designed for teachers and students from the fifth to ninth grade in elementary schools. Green pack for Bosnia and Herzegovina includes 23 themes from the environment and sustainable development, which are divided into five chapters:
- Environmental components: air, water, soil and biodiversity,
- Threats to the environment: urbanization, noise, waste, chemicals, and landmines in our environment,
- Human activities and impacts: energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and tourism,
- Global challenges: climate change, ozone depletion, acidification, seas and oceans,
- Values: consumerism, health and the environment, human rights and the future of planet Earth.
All these topics are detailed in all components of the Green Pack, which are:
- Manual for teachers with curriculum and fact sheets for students,
- DVD with animated and documentary films
- Interactive CD-ROM with a substantial information on various topics in ecology and dilemma games.
In this way, students will be able to follow the lesson plans complemented by video presentations and additional information from the CD-ROM, and links to web pages.
Why "Green Pack" in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Because in BiH there is no subject that deals with environmental issues in general, nor sustainable development. The plan and program of work for different subjects are contained in segments of these areas, and students learn about the general scientific facts. However, in the extra-curricular activities, most environmental section or specific thematic projects, seen significant results. The interest of students is large, as well as their awareness of the importance of preserving the environment and the desire to give its contribution. Teachers who lead these activities, often in disadvantaged positions due to lack of appropriate materials, and most of the work depends on their ability to find the same online or by contacting various institutions or organizations.
Green pack emphasizes the formation of new values in students and the establishment of a new model of behavior in schools, homes and in society - more than simply acquiring knowledge about specific areas of environmental protection. In this context, the students are, above all, partners, teachers regarding the implementation of activities, discussions, games with the division of roles and decision-making exercises.
The aim of the Green pack is to assist science teachers in teaching, and not to burden the material or teaching lessons.
Specifically, the Regional Environmental Center, Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH REC) in late 2007 began the implementation of the project on environmental education and sustainable development entitled "Green Pack".
The project "Green Pack" has been successfully implemented in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Albania, Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and the Russian Federation.
Along with Bosnia and Herzegovina in this regional project are also participating countries / territories of the Western Balkans: Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro, which is being implemented with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
Support during implementation of the project in BiH was provided by all Ministries of Education of the entity and cantonal level, the Pedagogy institutes in the FBiH and RS and the Government of Brcko District. We emphasize that the project "Green pack for the Western Balkans has been successfully implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina to the satisfaction all participants and beneficiaries; teachers and students of primary schools in BiH.
Green Pack was prepared in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian languages in a total of 1700 copies.
For further information please contact the REC office in BiH (contact person: Inka Persic, tel. 033 / 713 110, email: inka@rec.org.ba)
