On April 23rd 2004, with respect to the Earth Day, Croatia promoted the fourth generation of International Ecoschools. The fourth generation includes 18 primary and 10 secondary schools. The same day, 31 schools, 22 of which primary and 9 secondary renewed their status for the first time. Croatia currently has a total of 114 schools with an active International Eco-school status, while approximately another 100 schools applied to participate in the program. The ceremony was held in Zagreb at the Faculty of Economics Congress Hall, in quite a formal spirit, with a carefully chosen entertainment program. Along with school principals and school coordinators, we noted the presence of many school sponsors, representatives of the local communities that the schools belong to, representatives of the national authorities, numerous reporters and other guests.

The assembly was particularly honoured by the presence of the International Eco-schools Coordinator Mr. Sergio Santos, who complimented Croatian schools on the program implementation. The State Secretary with the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Mr. Zelimir Janjic and the assistant to the Minister of European Integration, Mr. Davor Cilic also expressed their compliments and a promise to help the program on behalf of their respective ministries. On behalf of the Croatian FEE Committee, Dr. Ante Kutle, its president delivered the opening and closing word. Mr. Sergio Santos awarded the certificates and Green flags to the schools, with the usual congratulations and photo taking.

   
The day after the ceremony, Mr. Santos attended two school ceremonies of the Green Flag hoisting, one at a secondary school in the Varazdinska county, and the other at a primary school in Medjimurska county. Both schools organized memorable events for their students, teachers, parents and sponsors, as well as for the representatives of the local authorities, press and other guests, including those from other Eco-schools in the aforementioned counties. The Secondary school for Agriculture and Veterinary studies from Vinica is the oldest school of such profile in the country and it features large areas for planting out, flower production and animal breeding. The primary school from Prelog is the best-equipped school in Croatia when it comes to various containers and other recyclable and reusable waste facilities. In the afternoon of the same day, together with the representatives of the Croatian FEE Committee, Mr. Santos visited "Tehnix", a firm specialized in production of a variety of containers for environmentally safe waste management, including biological purifiers for wastewater. The Thenix Company is a sponsor of the Prelog primary school, but they also gladly donate various waste facilities to other schools as well. During his stay in Zagreb, Mr Santos visited the office of the Nature Friends' Movement "Lijepa Nasa" (the Croatian FEE organisation), and through our conversation an idea was discussed, indicating that there might be a need for a regional meeting/conference, for representatives of different countries from the region, with different status with regard to the integration of the European Union. The idea of such a FEE meeting, with key topics including programme implementation of the Blue Flag, Eco-Schools and other campaigns, as well as regional level cooperation, could be of interest to the relevant Croatian Ministry, and "Lijepa Nasa" could make a significant conribution in terms of organisation and logistics. The participants list for the meeting could include the representatives of the national authorities, various local and regional associations and nongovernmental organisations for environmental education from the participating countries.
   
On Friday, April 30, in Lisbon Mr Santos, together with Mr José Archer (President of ABAE, the FEE member organisation for Portugal), met with the Croatian Minister for European Integration, Mrs Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, who thereby demonstrated here interest in the work of FEE and promoted cooperation with Croatia.

(April 2004)

Third Generation of Eco-Schools Awarding Ceremony

   
The National Jury members decided that 33 schools could receive this high international award. All schools from the first generation renewed their status. The Ceremony was held on April 2 in Gavella theatre in Zagreb. We were honoured this year to welcome Prof. Graham Ashworth, President of FEE, who stayed with us for three days. Before the ceremony, he visited three eco-schools in Zagreb, and had meetings with the Minister of Education and Sport and his Deputy, as well as the Assistant Minister of European Integration. As far as we can tell, Prof. Ashworth was very satisfied about the achievements and the way programme is being run in Croatia.
   
This event gathered approximately 400 guests, including representatives of the 53 awarded schools, head masters of the second generation of Eco-Schools, representatives of the local community, sponsors and many other distinguished guests. Dr. Ante Kutle, president of "Lijepa Nasa" the FEE Member organisation responsible for Eco-Schools in Croatia, has spoken about the programme, its aims and achievements through past three years and welcomed all to this event. Congratulations to awarded schools, and words of encouragement and on the importance of programme, were heard from Prof. Ashworth, President of FEE and Minister of education and sport Mr. Vladimir Strugar. On behalf of "Lijepa Nasa" as National programme manager, Mrs Sanja Cop-Barbaric, advisor for educational programmes, took this opportunity and presented the Eco-schools linking programme and its benefits to all guests.
   
The ceremony received interest from national television, radio and newspapers. After the presentation of a musical piece in the theatre, 33 schools were awarded Green Flags and certificates for the first time, and 20 schools renewed their status. The ceremony was followed by a reception. The level of achievement of the awarded schools is getting higher every year, so this is an encouragement to other schools taking part in the Eco-Schools programme.

2^nd National Eco-Schools Award Ceremony

   
The second National Eco-Schools Award Ceremony in Croatia was held in Zagreb, on the 22^nd of March, in the beautiful old town Municipal Hall.
   
The event brought together over 300 guests, including representatives of the awarded schools, Headmasters of the first generation Eco-Schools, representatives of the local communities, sponsors and many other distinguished guests.
   

Dr Ante Kutle, President of "Lijepa Nasa", the FEE Member organisation responsible for Eco-Schools in Croatia, opened the event outlining its aims and achievements. Congratulations to awarded schools, and words of encouragement and on the importance of the programme were heard from honourable guests, Mr Ivan Vavra, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Marija Pejcinovic, Assistant Minister of European Integration, Mrs Tanja Livada, Committee of Environmental Protection of the Croatian Parliament, Mr Zeljko Ostojic, of the State Directorate for Water, and Mrs Nada Pavser, National Eco-Schools Manager for Slovenia.  The ceremony received interest from national television, radio and newspapers.
   
After a musical piece delivered in the Hall, 33 schools were awarded Green Flags and Certificates, and this was followed by a reception.  The level of achievement of the awarded schools this year was great, and is an encouragement to other schools taking part in the Eco-Schools programme in Croatia.

(March 2002)

News from Croatia

   
The Eco-Schools programme started in Croatia in 1998 after primary and secondary schools have been invited by the Nature friends movement Lijepa nasa and the Ministry of Education to join the project in Croatia. It all started with a two day seminar in Zagreb for 105 schools which applied, 38 of which were secondary and the rest primary schools. The seminar was conducted by education and environment experts. All participants were given a manual on water, waste and energy, which have been translated from English into Croatian and adjusted to the Croatian educational standards. Copyrights were obtained from the Tidy Britain Group. Participants were also given posters and other material regarding Eco-Schools.
   
Not all schools managed to develop the program in the same pace, but some have showed incredible initiative and willingness to start new areas. We can conclude that the program has developed very well in Croatia, that it has been accepted by pupils, teachers, parents and local communities. We have established cooperation with the ministry of education and the counties, so we expect the program to grow even further in the future.