Local Agenda 21, Chapter 7, Education
Local Agenda 21 (LA21)
7. Education and Awareness Raising
7.1 Education and increasing public awareness are fundamental to LA21 in Tameside. Positive attitudes towards environmental matters need to be developed in young people in schools and supported by the growing awareness of the adult population. The commitment of young people and adults needs to be directed towards positive action to improve environmental conditions and the quality of life.
Formal Education
7.2 Schools and colleges clearly have a key role to play in developing both an understanding of environmental matters and a lifelong commitment to protecting and improving the quality of the environment.
7.3 Schools will be encouraged to include environmental issues in the curriculum and to ensure continuity and coherence in pupils' experiences. Many young people have concerns about the environment and want to be well informed. Their interest needs to be harnessed and their capacity to contribute enhanced.
7.4 Additionally schools have a lead role to play in innovative environmental projects, school grounds improvement projects, recycling schemes, energy reduction programmes, and the implementation of purchasing policies that take into account sustainability issues. Local businesses should be encouraged to work with schools on environmental projects in the context of the business and the school. Schools will also be encouraged to share good practice in environmental education through local network meetings, dissemination conferences and through the use of the Internet.
7.5 The Eco-Schools Project offers a supportive structure for schools as they work to improve environmental performance and build environmental issues explicitly into the curriculum. Schools will be able to participate in Eco-Schools' activities including recycling, energy conservation, ground improvements and curriculum development.
7.6 A key feature of the Eco-Schools Project is the involvement of pupils and the wider community in discussions about decisions to be made and direct action. The project brings together the whole school community, including parents, other local people and businesses, and combines environmental awareness with active citizenship. The Eco-Schools Project is a major vehicle for addressing Local Agenda 21 issues in Tameside's schools.
Awareness Raising
7.7 Projects that involve local people in environmental action are an important part of putting LA21 into practice and also increasing awareness of environmental issues. Environmental projects in schools that involve parents and the wider community contribute to public awareness.
7.8 Many of the Council's departments have a role to play in raising awareness. Public libraries, information offices, the Countryside Warden Service and indeed information access points throughout all of Tameside's public buildings can make a valuable contribution. The Council's own newspaper, "Tameside Citizen", can play a useful role.
7.9 Awareness of environmental issues will be increased where Tameside residents participate in making decisions involving the quality of their local environment. These could include litter and waste management projects, schemes involving recycling, environmental improvements and, for example, adopting local trees or monuments.
7.10 The Council will increase public awareness through demonstrating best practice in the local area and explaining to Tameside residents the reasons for its actions. Local businesses will be encouraged to develop sustainable practices (see section 15).
| Policy Number | Action | Time Scale | Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
Education |
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| 1. | Encourage schools and colleges to take environmental action, including school grounds improvement projects, recycling, energy reduction projects, green purchasing policies | S/L | LEA, Other Council Departments and Groundwork |
| 2. | Encourage schools to include, where appropriate in the curriculum, education for sustainability. | S/L | LEA |
| 3. | Encourage Tameside schools to participate in the Eco-Schools Project in association with the Tidy Britain Group. | S | LEA |
| 4. | Disseminate progress in environmental education and environmental performance throughout Tameside | L | LEA |
Awareness Raising |
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| 5. | Encourage participation by Tameside residents in decision making involving the quality of the local environment with schemes aiming at litter and waste management, recycling, environmental improvement, and the adoption of a tree or a monument | S/L | Council Departments |
| 6. | Demonstrate best practice and explain reasons for various environmental initiatives. | S/L | Council Departments |
| 7. | Encourage local businesses to develop sustainable practices. | S/L | Businesses, TMBC. |
| 8. | Public Awareness/Education (provide information to public) | S | TMBC, All, Partners. |
| 9. | Publicise Local Agenda 21 initiatives. | S/L | TMBC, All Partners. |
The key to the "timescale column is as follows:
| Type of Term | Description of Term |
|---|---|
| S = Short-term | those proposals which are either already in progress or to be implemented in the near future. |
| L = Long-term | those actions which are likely to be considered for implementation in coming years. |
| FI = Further Initiative | a proposal which, although desirable, is unlikely to be implemented in the foreseeable future. |