Local Assembly Member, Joyce Watson, today (Wednesday 2 July) congratulated the latest school in Ceredigion to achieve 'top eco' status, and welcomed £326,500 worth of extra investment for the Eco-Schools Programme 2008-09.
Cwmpadarn Primary School in Aberystwyth recently achieved Green Flag status. Altogether, there are 81 eco-schools in Ceredigion, 13 of which have achieved the top award.
Labour Assembly Member for Ceredigion JOYCE WATSON AM said:
"The extra money for the eco-schools programme will ensure that children across in Wales receive an environmental education.
"The Eco-Schools Programme extends beyond the classroom and develops responsible citizenship attitudes both at home and in the wider community.
"The expansion of the programme, together with initiatives like Plant! - the Assembly Government scheme to plant a tree for every child born or adopted in Wales - means we can be confident the next generation will grow-up fully aware of environmental issues from the earliest age.
"Climate change is a challenge which faces us all and we have to act collectively to tackle it. Last week tens of thousands of people right across Wales did their bit for environmental management by volunteering for 'clean up' events organised as part of Keep Wales Tidy week."
The Eco-Schools Programme encourages pupils to engage with environmental and sustainable development issues and invests pupils with key roles in participating and making decisions about how they can reduce the environmental impact of the school.
Once a school has registered, and implemented the seven key elements of the Eco-Schools process, they can apply for an Eco-Schools award. There are three levels of award, the highest of which is the Green Flag.
