Environmental education in Greece is delivered through an interdisciplinary approach integrated across subjects like mathematics, science, and history rather than as a standalone subject. It is supported by environmental education officers, thematic networks of schools, and environmental education centers. Environmental education officers encourage teacher training and help coordinate school programs. Thematic networks allow collaboration between schools on common topics. Environmental education centers provide resources for formal and informal programs, teacher training, and citizen awareness activities.

1. Τhe Environmental
Education in the Greek
educational system
Dr Dimitrios Gkotzos
Environmental Education Officer
of the Athens B (North Athens)
Directorate of Primary Education

2. An overview of the
organisation and
administration of
Environmental
Education in
Greece

3. Environmental Education at school
❏ Environmental Education is not a traditional
subject but an educational process...
❏ ... in the context of a
multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary approach.
ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION
ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS
ICTs
PHYSICS
AESTHETIC
EDUCATION
GEOGRAPHY
BIOLOGY
LANGUAGE
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION
SOCIOLOGY
HISTORY
CHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
MATHEMATICS
ICTs
PHYSICS
AESTHETIC
EDUCATION
GEOGRAPHY BIOLOGY
HISTORY
SOCIOLOGY
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION
LANGUAGE
Multidisciplinary model
Interdisciplinary model

4. Supporting institutions
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & SCHOOL
ACTIVITIES OFFICERS
❏ Encourage teachers to participate in training
seminars.
❏ Organisation of such seminars.
❏ The coordination of actions for the
presentation - promotion of the
programmes.
❏ Informing teachers about the possibilities of
cooperation with the Environmental
Education Centres.
❏ Organisation of school networks.
❏ A teacher, usually with experience in
Environmental Education.
❏ Coordination and support of school
programmes.
❏ Informing teachers about the possibilities of
implementing projects.
❏ Supporting teachers in the design and
implementation of programmes. (visits to
schools, organisation of meetings, provision
of educational material, support in teaching
methodology, etc.)

5. Supporting institutions
THEMATIC NETWORKS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION
❏ 20 schools at the start of its operation up to
100 schools at the end of its development.
❏ Objective:
❏ To bring together teachers and
students from different schools.
❏ Exchange of views, ideas, experiences
and material.
❏ Collecting and processing data on a
topic with the aim of drawing scientific
conclusions or establishing an overall
picture of the topic.
❏ Environmental Education programmes with
similar themes from different schools can
form a thematic network.
❏ Coordinated by a Directorate of Education,
an Environmental Education Centre or a
non-profit organisation.
❏ There are networks that have a local scale,
at the level of a Directorate of Education…
❏ ... but the best known ones refer to the
national, European or international level.

6. Supporting institutions
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRES
● In public buildings
both in urban and rural
areas throughout the
country
● Some have a
restaurant and
dormitories (hostels).
● They support school
Environmental
Education Education.
● They are
administratively
subordinate to the
Regional Directorates of
Education.
● They are usually staffed
by 5-9 teachers.
● Characteristics of non-
formal and lifelong
education.
● Classrooms, multi-
purpose rooms,
exhibition rooms, library,
laboratories, computer
rooms.

7. Supporting institutions
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRES
● Development of educational
material.
● Organisation of training
seminars for teachers.
● Organisation of thematic
networks.
● Design & implementation of
Environmental Education
programmes for students.
● One-day or multi-day
programmes.
● Their themes are varied, with
elements of the local
environment.
● Actions to raise awareness in the
local community and mobilise citizens
towards sustainable development.