Description
The usage of the environment by human activity has already exceeded the capacity of our planet. We must face the global problems and they can only be solved by a radical change in our approach. The mission of environmental education and pedagogy of sustainability is to educate people on how they can act thoughtfully and responsibly in their daily lives. In our school the environmental education is still in the early stages and through the project the school would like to share best practices in personal and institutional levels and develop relations in the field of sustainability. The project is a continuation of a cooperation started last year. The beneficiary participants wish acquire new ideas from the Norwegian partner colleagues on how to motivate the students, teachers and parents for environmentally conscious behaviour. Since our students mostly come from disadvantaged family backgrounds, the school is perhaps the only place where they can learn about environmental protection and work on topics related to the environment from an early age. The teachers will fulfill the project and transfer the acquired patterns of environmental behavior to the other target groups of students and parents as well.
Summary of project results
During our stay in Norway we visited two schools where we could gain experience in the areas of organization of lessons. Freedom of the students and their responsibilities are visible perfect model for the development of personality. The impact of school environments and working conditions on teachers and students is decisive and influential. Providing such condition is not merely depends on material the creation of these is primarily, but not merely material circumstances. The project’s long term goal can be achieved since in Norway we saw constructive life-style models and school-organizing practices, these examples representing fundamental principles of National Sustainable Development Strategy. Implementing principle of holistic approach, solidarity between generations, social justice, integration and social participation. Practical integration of the mentioned principles in Hungary as one of the members of European Union is indispensable. In Norway we have witnessed that these are not just empty phrases but feasible and implemented principles and values. In the classrooms we could see a perfect example of integration and inclusion. Arabic, African and Asian students were in perfect harmony with the "original" Norwegian students, despite cultural and religious differences. During the projects’ programmes all participants gain a wide range of point of view about educational system. The two schools’ pedagogical programmes have common and different features. Comparisons of these similarities and differences show positive impact. To achieve planned results is possible by implementing and realizing of good practices.
Summary of bilateral results
The cooperation with Malakoff videregaende skole was established four years ago after searching EEA partners. During the preparatory visit we have opportunity to be acquainted with each other’s institution, activities, attitudes. It were found many common features so we decided to apply for an EEA grant to discuss experiences and exchange best practices. As a result of the preparatory visit we implemented a project in the topic ESL treatment and VET in technical field. Exchanging good practices and experience strengthened the relations between contributors. By this occasion we decided to continue the common work and to apply for a new project aiming Eco-school programmes. The programmes of this project provide an effective way for cooperation and contribution among its participants. Both school pedagogical programmes emphasize the importance of school projects aiming different topics. During visits all participants managed to get information about each other’s school projects. Short movies and interviews displayed in the given school project. Discussions of these topics were beneficial for the partners and served as useful and practical meetings. Since the cooperation and communication between participants were so useful and successful, there was an agreement to work together in the future. We have applied for an E+ project with the title of ‘Traditions across borders’ in the programme cooperation there will be six European countries. The fundamental aim of the project is to improve young people's intercultural communicative competence in a complex, knowledge, skill, attitude and responsibility based manner. Human relations, friendships, the knowledge of the other nations’ cultural values are all the keys to becoming a European citizen.