Greek Environmental Curriculum
in  Secondary Education
Partnership Project inOpen and DistanceLearning

  Greek Environmental Education

    Throughout the 6 years of the Greek secondary educational system there has been no lesson dedicated to the environmental education. Nevertheless, environmental issues are dealt with in some respect in the curricula of science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology are different subjects with different curricula). One of the main - common - targets of Physics and Chemistry of the second and third grade of the Greek Gymnasium (that corresponds to the second and third year of a six year secondary education) is for the students:
 

    … to understand the importance of the environment and the saving of natural resources and to develop initiatives in order to protect the environment and to administrate these resources …
For instance in the lesson of Chemistry of the second grade of Gymnasium there are 17 units on the chemical characteristics of the physical environment (air, water, soil). So, lesson No 5 deals with the pollution of the atmosphere:
 
    … the student should learn that the human activities can cause changes in the atmosphere and that will lead to the disturbance of the ecological balance and he should be informed who are the main polluters of the atmosphere and which activities are involved …
or, in the lesson No 10 (about the pollution of water):
 
    … the student should get to know the main causes of water pollution in order to become sensitive in the direction of their protection. The student should learn to use with prudence chemical products and demand strict standards and limitations in the disposal and elaboration of industrial  waste and finally to be personaly involved as far as he can in the process of  cleansing of the environment ...
or, in the lesson No 11 (about the water resources):
 
    … the student should learn to be sensitive in the use of water resources, and he should realise that water supplies are not inexhaustible so he should be able to suggest ways to save water …
The same policy towards environmental education is also followed in primary education. One of the main purposes of Science in the fifth and sixth grade is:
 
    … to help the students realise: i. the need to preserve the balance in nature, something important for the survival of mankind and for the improvement  of the quality of life.
    ii. the impact of technical civilisation in man’s life …
Also, the lesson of Geography gives a fine opportunity to deal with environmental issues:
 
    … the students should realise that in our times the problems that mankind faces are common for all human beings and the solutions could be given only through co-operation and mutual support of countries …