Planning education to care for the earth - IUCN Knowledge Network

Spain: Coordination of environmental educationSusana CalvoAbstractThis article first deals with the present situation of environmentaleducation in Spain and the coordination activities initiated by thegovernment to create a framework which should facilitate the work ofenvironmental educators. The steps taken to build a national strategyfor environmental education on the basis of negotiations and thethinking of all concerned parties are then described.IntroductionEnvironmental education (EE) in Spain must, by law, be an aspect of schoolprogrammes from the primary level upwards. It is a cross-curricular area,with the intention that it should influence the teaching of all subjects in eachcourse. The generalization of EE throughout the educational system requires,however, some encouragement, especially in teacher training.Since the end of the 1970s, official programmes, activities and equipmenthave expanded to the point where almost all the administrations of theautonomous communities and many councils have a department ofenvironmental education. Activities are directed towards schoolgoers andvisitors to protected areas. The problem is that monitoring and evaluation arenot always carried out, with the result that effort is wasted and methods andpractices are not improved. The EE departments are isolated and are not usedas a working tool in executing organizational policies.Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also substantially engaged inEE activity. Many longstanding youth associations (for example, the BoyScouts) have included EE in their training activities. Others, including theSpanish Red Cross, have been promoting EE for some time, withconsiderable support from their members. Ecological associations have aneducational function, sometimes related to campaigns on environmentalissues. Linking of such voluntary initiatives with State support has beentried, but further study is needed to avoid the uncontrolled distribution ofofficial funds or giving the impression that money is being handed out (orwithheld) as a way of rewarding associations (or penalizing them) in thelight of their attitude towards the administration’s policies andprogrammes.Environmental education in Spain today presents a rich and varied picture.The activities are spontaneous and creative, but often sporadic andprecarious. Increasing resources and funds - mostly public - are beingutilized. A fair distribution of these resources and their extension to coversociety as a whole calls for thought and an effort of redefinition.120