Topic: Compulsory environmental education/training in EU schools, colleges, and universities
The aim of compulsory environmental education is to increase the engagement of young people of the European Union in solving current and future environmental challenges, thus, reversing the dire consequences of the climate crisis caused by us humans. It teaches empathy, critical thinking, problem-solving, social participation, cooperation between humans and nature, teamworking, and other useful skills. This goal could be accomplished through the following steps:
• Environmental education must be taught as a separate subject in the curriculum, not only as an insufficient part of other school subjects (e.g., geography, biology,…)
• The subject must be included in the curriculum of all levels of education
• The subject must be taught practically rather than theoretically
• Students must benefit from the knowledge of their practical activities, therefore, the local eco micro-projects are welcomed as a form of their final assessment.
• The school must improve students’ critical thinking regarding environmental issues
• The subject must include topics such as environmental sustainability, climate, climate anxiety, biodiversity, eco-activism, renewable energy, waste management, and issues related to it
• The school must ensure partnerships with local farms, parks, and other eco-friendly organizations or institutions
• The school must have the opportunity to create a school garden, a compost pile, a weather station, a greenhouse, or other interactive projects that would help students to engage even more with the particular topic
• Students must be engaged in the school discussions and presentations with the experts, eco-activists, and scientists
It is also important to create additional training/courses for all teachers and tutors to obtain important knowledge regarding environmental education. The outcome of this subject is dependent on the approach of the teachers.
