This document summarizes environmental education programs in Greece's primary and secondary schools. It describes two international networks, Eco-Schools and LEAF (Learning About Forests), that coordinate environmental projects between Greek schools. The networks are supervised by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and aim to support environmental education, teacher training, and student activities focused on sustainability and nature. Over 195 primary and secondary schools with over 1,400 teachers and students participate in the networks each year.

1. The International
Thematic Networks of
Environmental
Education in Hellenic
Primary and Secondary
Education: The case of
Eco-schools and LEAF
Programs
Dimitrios Gkotzos –
Environmental Education Officer
Hellenic Ministry of Education and
Religious Affairs
B Athens Directorate of Primary
Education
President of LEAF National
Coordinating Committee
dmgtzs@gmail.com
“The school network of the Eco-Schools and Learning
about Forests Programs - a model for successful
cooperation for sustainable
development, environmental protection and eco
education”
Opening Conference
25-26/4/2014 Sofia, Bulgaria

2. Ministry of Education
and Religious Affairs
Regional Directorates
of Primary and
Secondary Education
Environmental
Education Centers
Directorates of
Primary Education
Primary Schools &
Kindergartens (ages 5-
12)
Environmental
Education Projects
School Activities
Officers
Environmental
Education
Supervision of
Environmental
Education Projects
Teacher training in
Environmental
Education
Environmental
Education Centers
Environmental NGO’s
(e.g. HSPN)
Health Education Cultural Issues
Directorates of
Secondary Education
Secondary Schools
(Gymnasiums &
Lyceums, ages 12-18)
Environmental
Education Projects
School Activities
Officers
Directorate of
Counseling and Career
Guidance &
Educational Activities
Department of
Environmental and
Health Education
Environmental Education in the
Educational System of Greece

3. The Thematic Networks of Environmental Education
(supervised by the Ministry of Education & Religious Affairs)
Collaboration among schools in various
areas, that implement Environmental
Education (E.E.) projects of similar content
Support of E.E. projects (pedagogical and
scientific)
Development of educational resources
Organization of teacher training seminars
and school visits
Thematic
Networks of
E.E.
Local or
Regional
National International

4. The International Thematic Networks of
Environmental Education
International
cooperation
Promotion of
ministerial
policy at
international
level
Directorates of Primary
& Secondary
Education, Environment
al Education
Centers, Local
Government
institutions, Non-
profit, non-
governmental
Environmental
Organizations
National Coordinating
Committees
-President: Officer from
the Ministry of
Education
-Representative of the
Directorate of
Counseling and Career
Guidance & Educational
Activities

5. The International Thematic Networks of Environmental Education
Eco-Schools & LEAF (Learning about Forests)
International Coordinator:
FEE (Foundation for
Environmental Education)
National Operator: HSPN
(Hellenic Society for the
Protection of Nature)
(the oldest environmental
NGO in Greece)
National Coordinators:
B΄ Αthens Directorate of
Secondary Education (Eco-
Schools) &
B΄ Αthens Directorate of
Primary Education (LEAF)
Coordinating Committees: HSPN
representatives &- officers from
institutions of the Ministry of
Education and Religious Affairs
(Environmental Education
Officers, School Advisors, School
Principals, Directors of
Environmental Education Centers)
Primary and Secondary
Schools (state and
private) throughout the
whole country
1. Any action of the Networks
receives approval from the
Ministry (meetings of the
Committee, teacher training
seminars etc.)
2. Submission of a detailed
report every year.
http://eepf.gr/en/about

6. School participation
•195 schools
•1000
teachers
•80 schools
•400 teachers

7. Local funding
John S.
Fafalios
Foundation
Leventis
Foundation

8. Teacher training
An
international
attempt for the
integration of
sustainability in
school practice
Eco- Schools LEAF
Educational
activities in
forests

9. Awards
Eco-schools
green flag +
banner
Fieldwork bag (LEAF)

10. Eco-Schools: 111 schools
(66 of them were awarded the
green flag & 45 were awarded
for their first year in the
network ) LEAF: 34 schools
Award ceremonies

11. Educational Resources

12. Οther Activities (Eco-Schools)
Reduction of litter
Long-term behavior
change
46 schools took part in
the campaign in the
school year 2013-2014
3rd year of
the campaign
in Greece

13. Οther Activities (LEAF)
Tree & seed planting activities (Panasonic Tree Planting)

14. Οther Activities (LEAF)Poster
Tool of
learning and
action
Searching
and finding
Adventurous
story, legend,
fantastic
journey
Forest
ecosystem, inter
action between
natural and
human
relationships
Adjustable
(player’s
number, age-
experience, locati
on, climatological
conditions)
Treasure Hunt Game

15. Τhank you for
your attention!