Children to pitch in during climate change live-in debate

Some 100 Maltese boys and girls will be getting together for a live-in weekend in January to discuss climate change strategy.

News of the children's "summit" were announced by Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino during an environmental seminar for children at the Siġġiewi primary school.

During the seminar six schools were awarded a green flag, symbolising their participation in the EkoSkola programme, aimed at student empowerment in environmental management and decision-making.

The EkoSkola programme is an international programme boasting the participation of almost five million students worldwide and 21,000 member schools in 44 countries. In Malta, as many as 94 schools are actively taking part in the programme, said Paul Pace, EkoSkola's national coordinator.

Dr Pace said the programme was set up in a way that allowed students to become the main actors, not mere participants in the show.

The programme was launched in 1994 by the Foundation for Environmental Education. In Malta, the foundation has been represented and managed by Nature Trust since 2002.

Nature Trust president Vince Attard said this programme allowed children to become more proactive than adults.

Education Minister Dolores Cristina agreed and said that "children could make the new (environmental) politics of the nation".

To join the programme schools had to adhere to seven requirements. At the core was an eco-schools committee, made up of a school governor, teachers, students, a member of the school maintenance team, non-teaching staff, a parent and a local council representative.

The schools had to create an eco-code, an environmental review of the school, set up an action plan, monitor and evaluate the action taken, link EkoSkola activities to the school's curriculum, and finally disseminate the school's activities within the community.

The schools awarded with a green flag for the first time yesterday were St Ignatius College Siġġiewi Primary, St Benedict College Kirkop Primary and St George Preca College Paola Primary A.

St Joseph School Blata l-Bajda and St Joseph Mater Bon Consilii Paola were renewing their green flag after holding their status for two years. The Xagħra Primary in Gozo is also a green flag winner, but their flag will be handed over in Gozo.

Joyce Cauchi, assistant head of St Joseph Blata l-Bajda and Ekoskola coordinator, said the programme was very positive: "The programme has become a way of life that has been applied in school and beyond."

Josette Cassar, head of Paola Primary A, agreed and said their involvement was an exercise in children empowerment - winning the green flag was entirely due to the children's ideas and initiatives.

Sr Lucienne, from St Joseph Mater Bon Consilii, admitted that the biggest challenge was starting the programme but once that was out of the way and everyone was in the loop, it had worked.

The Ekoskola programme, which costs some €120,000 per year, is supported by the Rural Affairs and Education ministries, HSBC Bank Malta and WasteServ.

www.ekoskolamalta.com