This year for the first time there were separate An Taisce Green School seminars for primary schools and secondary schools held at Áras Contae an Chláir in recent weeks.
Roisin Ni Ghairbhith, Green Schools Travel Officer, said that “A separate seminar for secondary school students proved a great success. It was an opportunity for secondary school teachers to share experiences, approaches and challenges. Secondary schools who take the green-schools programme on as a whole school endeavour to see huge reductions in waste, water charges, electricity bills, school gate traffic jams and much more. We want to help them make as easy as possible for them to submerge Green-Schools into their every day school life”.
Green Schools is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce in partnership with Clare County Council. It is a is a long-term environment education and awareness programme where schools contribute to protect and improve our environment as well as mitigate the effects of climate change in their locality. Schools undertake various activities on each of the following themes Litter and Waste, Energy, Travel, Water Biodiversity and Global Citizenship once they have successfully completed An Taisce’s 7 Step programme
Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer, Clare County Council, said “To date ninety nine primary schools, fourteen secondary schools and three preschools have received green flags. This is a reflection of these schools and the green school coordinators ongoing commitment to this programme. I am continuously impressed by the dedication and work of Green Schools throughout County Clare”