Enhancing Environmental Education Policy in Bulgaria

1. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION POLICY Working Group (EEP WG) Support of NCE development in Bulgaria - funded by theDarwin Initiative of DEFRA, UK & Environmental Education at the primary schools of Bulgaria- funded by theМАТRА Program c/o The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands

2. Prerequisites for establishment of the EEP WG • Saving the Environment. NGOs support - National round table, 2002. • Strategy paper of the Bulgarian network for environmental education - BEE Net, 2003 – Establishing a dialog with the state institutions for testing the opportunities in the field of EE. • Memorandum of understanding between MES and MOEW, 2004 • Information and education campaign for training teachers and developing the “Green Pack”, 2004 • The resource of educational materials gained through the years by different key players (civil organizations etc.) in the EE sphere.

3. Engagements of the EEP WG 1. “Program for supporting the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Bulgaria”– a framework policy document for support and development of ESD in the formal schools of Bulgaria; 2. Creating opportunities for all stakeholders and decision makers, lecturers and teachers to improve the quality of ESD in Bulgaria; 3. Information poster about the development of main ideas and the concept of ESD - to be disseminated among all schools in Bulgaria.

4. Supporting Program for ESD in Bulgaria 1. Analysis of state plans and programs for checking the opportunities for development of the ESD in the all forms of education. 2. Basic terminology: • Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) – education for personal and social development, which includes ecological, social (socio-political / socio-cultural) and economic dimensions of the development. • Environmental Education (EE) – an education intended to form an ecological culture, ecological mentality and ecological behavior in their mutual relationship and unity, in order to preserve the ecological balance. • Nature Conservation Education (NCE)– aneducation for protecting the environment, which includes a system of educational activities for protecting, improving, managing and rational use of natural resources, living in harmony with nature and with concern about the future generations.

5. 3.A comparative review of national and international documents and treaties on EE and ESD; • Strategy for sustainable development education of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Decade of ESD • A memorandum for collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) and the Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) • National Strategy and Action Plan of MoEW(2005 – 2014); • A number of conventions to which Bulgaria is an official party: • The UN Framework Convention on the Climate Change, • - The UN Biodiversity Convention, • The Aarhus Convention for Access to Environmental Information, • etc, etc ….. • The State Educational Inspectorate responsible for textbooks content and school programs of MES • Joint projects of MES, MoEW and civic organizations. 4. Consultations with the British and the Dutch experts.

6. Elaboration of a Program for supporting • the ESD in Bulgaria • Scope and content - key elements • Aims and priorities of the Program • Ways and forms of implementation • Recommendations

7. The Program for supporting • the ESD in Bulgaria envisages the following tasks: In general, to stimulate and encourage the development of ESD in all forms of formal and informal education in Bulgaria. Particular tasks include:  Encouraging the application of the ESD principles in all forms of formal and informal education in Bulgaria, as well as the teacher training. To support the creation and dissemination of contemporary ESD materials. To support the partnerships between representatives of state institutions, local authorities, businesses, schools, communities and NGOs on national, regional and local level for ESD development.

8. PRIORITIES • 1. A system of competencies of young people will be developed: linguistic (language and literature); informational; cognitive; socio-cultural and health-ecological. 2.An integrated approach to ecological, health, social and economical education is encouraged. . 3. The Program will provide opportunities for development of programs for Continuing Education for Life. 4. The Program puts a bias on the combined participation of all stakeholders interested in ESD: state institutions, universities, schools, museums, national and nature parks, municipalities, NGOs, business organizations, media etc. 5.The Program will encourage the development of new educational materials, modern teacher trainingprograms, projects for environmental improvement, and networks for exchange of information and experience. .

9. MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS • Development of ESD programs based on the interdisciplinary approach. • Development of educational materials on ESD based on the use of interactive methods and ICT. • Supporting the schools for development of their own programs and projects in the field of SD, according to the local specifics. • Encouraging children and youth to participate in activities related to development and implementation of SD projects • Setting up networks for ESD information exchange should receive support from all interested stakeholders. • Public participation in the decision-making process for development of ESD programs and projects on local scale must be encouraged. • Support to educational service centers for children’s spare time must be provided. In addition, ESD programs for use outdoors (e.g. during field trips, Green Schools etc.) must be developed.

10. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!