Call for Application

At the request of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Rural Development, the National Institute for Public Education announces an open application for the title ‘Eco-school’

Who is addressed?

Schools and colleges in accordance with the educational law 1993. LXXIX. 20. § (1) b)–g).

What is the aim of the program?

The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Rural Development have commonly created the title ‘Eco-school’ so that the principles of sustainability, environmental consciousness and development appear the most effectively possible in educational institutes.

The title serves the recognition of those schools and colleges that deal with the practical realization of environmental consciousness, sustainable consumption and the pedagogy of ESD and environmental training in a carefully considered, institutional and systematic way.

Donation of the title ‘Eco-school’ is a link of the UNO program ‘Education of Sustainable Development’ in the decade 2005-2014. Elaboration of application terms of ‘Eco-school’ has been accomplished by the multi-decennial experience of ENSI (Environment and School Initiatives).

Advantages of acquiring the title

• The Hungarian ’Eco-school’ criteria system, harmonized with international criteria, is a distinguishing quality mark, which makes the school attractive for parents and represents a positive feedback on the work of the school for the maintainer.
• Schools being established by a state initiative have a greater chance to take part in tenders concerning environmental education and the pedagogy of ESD.
• Possessors of the title will be the member of the Network of Eco-schools, which benefits the growth of Hungarian and international contacts of the school, furthermore the programs of the Network facilitate its professional development.
• Students of a school having obtained the title can take part in the programs and tenders of the Ministry of Rural Development for Eco-schools.

Schools can hand their application in by filling the form out attached to this document:

1. Application form
2. Letter of intent
3. Self-assessment sheet
4. Description of the eco-school activity of the school

How to fill in the Self Assessment Sheet?

The attendant should express his most honest agreement with the aims of the title in the letter of intent and should do his very best to fulfill them. The letter of intent must be signed by the director as well as by the representative of the students and the parents (e.g. Student Council, Parents’ Committee).

Further conditions:

Schools having obtained the title should work out an annual work plan based on self-assessment each scholar year, being in great concordance with the one of the school’s annual work plan, and implying the current eco-school tasks with persons in charge and deadlines.

There is no maximum limit of titles to be obtained.

Winners receive a diploma proving that the school uses the title ‘Eco-school’ legitimately. There is no financial support linked to the acquisition of the title.

The school can use the title in a three-year-long period after the publication of the list of winners and can re-acquire it by another application again.

In case of no request for prolongation of the title in three years’ time, the school loses it automatically and will be reported on the fact. If the school gives a new application in, it will be considered as a refresher entering for the first time.

Adequate activities meeting the requirements of the title can be supervised in the school by experts of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Rural Development.

Judgment process

Certain applicants will be preferred by judgment, namely whose:

• eco-school work plan fits to the local sustainability-centered development conception, and the maintainer makes a written statement stipulating that he is to support the school in attaining eco-school scopes,
• application is being assisted by the Community of Civil Servants in a written form,
• work plan is backed up by external partners (civil organizations, firms, private entrepreneurs) during the process of realization (and written declarations are at disposal too)
• school makes its most zealous efforts to ensure the building of different educational grades on each other (kindergarten – primary school – high school – higher education).

The diploma shall be signed by the ministers in charge for Education and Environmental Protection together.