The Seychelles’ Eco-School Programme was established 24 Years ago. All state schools in Seychelles are registered for the programme. The programme is coordinated by the Environmental Education Unit within the Ministry of Educations.

The Seychelles’ Eco-School programme is more than just a programme that concerns teachers and students alone. It also involves other members in the community and environmental organizations to work together to promote environmental learning and environmental management practices in the daily operation of schools. Schools find ways to respond to local and global SD challenges to support policies relevant to the Seychelles on quality education and environmental sustainability. Some of the SD challenges that schools are responding to are climate change, unsustainable management of energy, water and waste, amongst others. Schools respond to some of the SD challenges through wide participation in decision making, holistic approaches to curriculum, student-centered pedagogy, links between school communities, and innovative management of resources and beautification of school grounds.

In each Eco-School, teachers, students and parents find ways to help the school become more environmentally friendly with support from other partners such as governmental and non-governmental organizations. For example, one of the main governmental organizations supporting the programme is the Ministry of Environment and Energy. The Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles is one of the local non-governmental organizations, and Save Our Seas Foundation is one of the international non-governmental organisations supporting Eco-School. The partners form all three sectors mentioned are providing different forms of support according to their organisations’ mandate. For instance, the Ministry of Environment and Energy provides financial support for educational trips and the Eco-Schools competition prize-giving ceremony. Whereas the Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles produce resources and fund projects for school-based clubs. These clubs are coordinated by Wildlife Clubs leaders who are also teachers working alongside school environment leaders in each Eco-School.

All Eco-Schools implement ESD activities and compile portfolios of evidence and PowerPoint presentation from which they are judge for performance through the annual which they are judged for performance through the annual Eco-Schools award. School are awarded points for their efforts based on the general criterion and participation in national school competitions.

Certificates, cash prizes and flags are examples of rewards given to schools for their respective level. There is also a separate category to reward a school for showing best practices in either

• Water management
• Energy management
• Waste Management
• Integration of ESD in teaching and learning, sponsored by local environmental organizations