OSCE Office in Yerevan holds workshop on environmental education

A workshop on environmental education, organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in co-operation with the Armenian Nature Protection Ministry, was held on 23 December 2016 in Yerevan.

Some 50 participants, including experts, parliamentarians, representatives of state agencies, civil society, international organizations, NGOs and Armenian Aarhus centres, took part in the workshop, which focused on the strategic development of environmental education within the context of the Aarhus Convention.

The participants discussed the educational component of sustainable development and the environmental component of state educational programme and touched upon the issues of non-formal environmental education. They also emphasized the importance of eco-education at the pre-school level. The role of the Aarhus centres in eco-education was among the topics discussed.

“The OSCE supports the eco-education programmes at all levels to raise awareness on environmental issues through formal and non-formal education,” said Argo Avakov, Head of OSCE Office in Yerevan. “It is important that the state authorities and the civil society combine their efforts to develop the environmental component of educational programmes as well as promote values and behavior standards directed at environmental safety.”

Artsvik Minasyan, the Minister of Nature Protection r, underscored the importance of the joint efforts of the executive, legislative bodies and the international community to promote environmental policy and environmental education in the country.

Participants also watched a puppet performance on environmental issues called “Green Syunik” organized by “Puppet” charity NGO and supported by the OSCE Office in Yerevan.