3 EV schools finalists in nationwide search for eco-friendly schools
Tacloban City — Three schools in Eastern Visayas are among the finalists in the National Search for Sustainable and Friendly Schools organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Smart Communications.
The Tongonan Kananga School for Excellence, Kananga, Leyte, for the elementary level; the San Policarpio National High School, Calbayog City, Samar, for the secondary level; and Visayas State University, Baybay, Leyte, for the tertiary level, are among the 42 schools in elementary, secondary and tertiary levels that will compete in the National Level with the awarding scheduled to be held on November 19, 2009.
The Search is part of the celebration for the month of November as the National Environment Awareness Month pursuant to the Environmental Awareness and Education Law otherwise known as Republic Act No. 9512.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly schools may be described as environment-friendly schools that have initiated and integrated in their instruction, research, extension and/or administration, programs which are environment-related.
The promotion of this program for the establishment and/or strengthening of sustainable and eco-friendly schools in the country had been enshrined as a priority in the ASEAN Environmental Education Plan for 2008-2012, and likewise in the Roadmap for the Implementation of Republic Act 9512 of 2008 (Environmental Awareness and Education Act) under the National Environmental Education Action Plan (2009-2014).
The criteria for determining the level of sustainability and eco-friendly schools include: environment-related aspects of the school’s policy, 20 points; environmental dimension for school operations, 30 points; environment-related features for the school curriculum, 30 points; presence of environmental partners and linkages in all programs and projects, 10 points; and presence of vibrant eco organizations in Campus, 10 points.
Prizes for the national level include: P50,000 for the 1st Prize; P40,000 for the 2nd Prize; P30,000 for the 3rd Prize and plaques of recognition for elementary, secondary and tertiary education level winners.
