A number of benefits can arise from implementing this strategy, both to schools and the wider community.
- The school gets help such as teaching-learning materials for example teachers’ guides pupils’ booklets, fact sheets and work sheets to carry out teaching about environmental issues.
- Improved school environment by developing positive attitudes and commitment to the environment, active participation on resolving environmental and sustainability problems.
- Through localized curricula, the opportunity for addressing local environmental and sustainability issues across subjects through field studies and the use of school grounds is provided.
- Micro projects set up with in the Eco community School programme act as demonstrations and learning resources for pupils and communities surrounding the school gives first hand experiences on for both the school and the community surrounding it. The pupils/students get first hand experiences on basic scientific skills like observation, experimentation, recording facts, analyzing records and drawing conclusions and inferences.
Generation of income from school micro projects. - School- Community partnerships are established that can enhance the sharing of resources, knowledge, and skills.
International Contacts. Local and international networks developed through the Eco-Community School programme can provide access to support agencies. Through these networks, opportunities for local and national information sharing are created. - Development of action competence.
- Increased awareness and knowledge about environment.
- Prestigious Eco-school awards given to participating schools.
- Savings in consumption and conservation of resources through best practices as per the environmental audit and social policy.
- Reduction in pollution and land degradation through best practices as per the school environmental policy/Eco-code.
- The opportunity to make environmental and sustainability issues an intrinsic part of the life of the school.
- The opportunity to help develop young people's decision-making skills.
- Opportunities for local and national publicity
- Access to a network of support agencies locally, nationally and internationally.
- Links with other schools locally, nationally and internationally
- Curriculum resource materials
- Ideas for micro-projects and events.
