The White Paper on Education and Training (Department of Education, 1995, p18) states that:
"Environmental Education involving the interdisciplinary, integrated and active approach to learning must be a vital element of all levels and programmes of education and training systems, in order to create environmentally literate and active citizens and ensure that all South Africans, present and future, enjoy a decent quality of life through sustainable use of resources."

This course will provide participants with the opportunity to:

• improve their understanding of Outcomes Based Education and their ability to implement Curriculum 2005;
• develop teaching skills to integrate EE into learning programmes in the classroom;
• improve their understanding of environmental issues and the connections between local, regional, national and global concerns; and
• establish EE support networks with their peers and transfer their learnings and experiences to other foundation phase teachers in their district.

COURSE OUTLINE
The course will take the following form:

• teachers will attend four workshops, held quarterly, on EE;
• following each workshop, Delta Environmental Centre extension staff will visit participating schools to provide support to teachers; and
• participating teachers will then convene district workshops for Foundation Phase teachers, the following year, to transfer their learnings and extend the EE support network in their districts.

WORKSHOPS
Cost: Participating teachers will bear no cost for the workshops.
Dates: To be determined in consultation with district officials.
Time: All workshops will be held after hours to avoid conflict with school work (i.e. 14h00 to 17h00).
Venue: Convenient venues will be identified within districts. Delta Environmental Centre will be used as a venue for at least one of the four workshops.
Transport: Transport to and from workshop venues and district offices will be provided at no charge.
Refreshments: Light refreshments will be provided.
Please note that all workshops will be conducted in English.

ENTRY CRITERIA

• Three Foundation Phase teachers per school may apply, preferably one of these teachers should be the head of department.
  
• Schools where HOD's apply will receive preference.
  
• Course participants must be self-motivated, enthusiastic teachers, who will be able to attend ALL workshops and be prepared to share their experiences.
  
• Previous involvement in EE workshops will be an advantage.

WORKSHOP CONTENT
The following concepts will be covered during the year:

• The concept of "environment".
  
• The environmental crisis and EE as a response to the crisis.
  
• Environmental auditing.
  
• Teaching and learning methods.
  
• Activity and resource development.
  
• Assessment within Outcomes Based Education.
  
• Developing an illustrative learning programme using themes such as water and recycling.