6 educational institutions from Bucharest, Brasov and Constanța are becoming model schools, examples of good practice for the separate collection of recyclable waste, in the latest project launched by ASAP Romania called ASAP+ School. From December to the end of the current month, selected lyceums are holding awareness-raising campaigns regarding the collection of recyclable materials and environmental protection.

High school “Jean Monet”, National College named after “Julia Hasdeu”, German College named after “Goethe” and the National College named after “Grigore Moisil” from Bucharest, National College “Àprily Lajos” from Brasov and the National College “Mircea cel Bătrân” from Constanta, there are 6 selected high schools.

Thus, the ASAP+ School project helps educational institutions to prepare for the status of “Green School” according to the methodology provided in the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PNRR), where the following are mandatory: environmental education, in schools (re)configuration as spaces environmentally friendly, and involving students in solving environmental problems.

The project aims to strengthen ASAP’s mission, actively promote environmental education among the target audience – teenagers – and create the largest single infrastructure for the separate collection of waste for recycling in all schools in Romania. With this strategic direction, the ASAP program is unique in Romania.

Since ASAP is organizing this project for the first time, feedback from participants is important. What is the impact of the project? How do teachers and students perceive him? What are the most interesting activities within the project? What does a sustainable school mean? To find out the answers to these and other questions, we spoke with representatives of each educational institution.

Simona Buyu has been a physics teacher at the Grigore Moisil National College in Bucharest for 15 years and has been working in education for 35 years. She has been a member of the National Board of Education Management Experts since 2010, and is also a project and program coordinator at the secondary school. This position allowed him to work with students outside of school hours, to get to know them better, and he considers these projects to be a real benefit for students – they increase the degree of socialization and valorization, stimulate them in the development of school life and the community. in general. In this way, students have the opportunity to improve and apply their knowledge in practice, participate in competitions, hikes, exchange experiences, etc.

What is the ASAP+ School project for the college where you teach? How do you feel its impact on students and teachers?

The project contributed to teaching students activities that lead to the creation and maintenance of a healthy, clean and pleasant climate in the school and community. Students also learned about the benefits of sample collection.

What do you see new in this project? What did the students learn in addition, what information did the teachers get about the environment, separate collection, sustainability in general?

The activity that most captivated the students was the Truth or Dare game, due to its interactive and relaxing form of play. In addition, I even talked to students about this topic and they told me that they learned the latest information about pollution, waste, recycling and the impact of human actions on the environment, all of which is very nice.

How will you continue the steps started by the ASAP+ School project? What are your plans for the future?

In recent years, I have participated together with high school students in a number of projects for the purpose of education for sustainable development and environmental protection. At the end of such a project, the national elective “Education for Sustainable Development” was introduced.which we conduct in 11th grade, the profile of a person. Its purpose is to convey to students information in the field of sustainable development and to form skills for their promotion.

What advantages do you see now, at the end of the ASAP+ School project, what conclusions do you draw about the importance of such a project? What good did he bring to your school?

The project contributed to the education of students in responsibility for the importance of environmental protection, the formation of the skills of caring for the environment through civilized behavior, and increasing their awareness of the importance of environmental protection. In general, environmental projects bring educational, moral, emotional and practical benefits to students, which will be reflected in the present and future behavior of responsible citizens.

What other green activities are you planning? In percentage terms, how many environmental and sustainable development projects have been implemented in your high school? Do you intend to increase this percentage as a result of the ASAP+ School project?

We strive to continue our green activities by participating in environmental campaigns that benefit students as well as community members: landscaping, planting, selective waste collection. We also continue to participate in environmental and sustainable development projects. And last, but not least, students are informed about the environmental policy of the European Union – we conduct such events as part of the European Parliament Ambassador School project, because since 2017 we have been the European Parliament Ambassador School in Romania.

What is a model sustainable school from your point of view?

A sustainable school is one that fully addresses and integrates all 17 sustainable development goals into the curriculum, extracurricular activities, school life, and community relations. This is a school that operates according to the PDCA (plan, develop, check and act) model, that is, “say what she does, do what she says, check what she did and improve.”

The ASAP+ School project is currently a pilot project, an example of good practice in local communities. Depending on the response of the communities involved and the results obtained from the actions taken, ASAP will continue and renew similar initiatives for the next academic year.

For more information about the ASAP+ School, see a separate project page.

Article supported by ASAP Romania