Rio Muchacho Environmental
School
As in many parts of the world there is urgent need for
education that not only prepares children for future employment but that
prepares them to responsibly manage the natural resources that they will be
entrusted with.
The
Community School
The creation of Rio Muchacho Community Environmental
School was in response to the lack of an educational institution and the
urgent need for environmental education. Work to create the School began in
1992 and 1993 was the first School year.
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| Children riding to school |
The School is constructed on land donated by one of the
parents and the construction was a community effort, each family donated
materials from their farms such as bamboo, thatch, wood and stone etc. There
are 2 open classrooms, a composting toilet, and a house for the teachers.
The first classroom was built with assistance from Alandaluz Ecological
Hotel and the others by the parents.
Unfortunately we lost one of the classrooms in El Niño
and the climbing frame during the earthquake (a power pole fell on top of
it). The teachers and parents are working to replace these.
Each year there is between 45-55 students, pre-school
to 6th grade. There are 3 teachers who teach several grades each.
The
Environmental Education
The curriculum is based on the national curriculum but
incorporates environmental education.
 Theoretical classes are given with the use of an audio
programme. These are complemented with practical work. The children learn
about issues affecting their environment e.g. water pollution,
deforestation, erosion and harmful agricultural practices. Within the School
grounds the children have a tree nursery, and each year they produce fruit
and forest trees. The students learn about growing vegetables and practice
growing them in the school gardens. Composts are made for use in the
vegetable garden and nursery. A lot of emphasis is put on rubbish management
and separation; the organic goes either to the compost toilet, the garden
compost or the banana circle, the inorganic is incinerated.
Every year the children go on field trips to each of
their houses. Here they work together implementing a chosen aspect of the
Environmental Education.
One limiting factor in the Environmental Education is
the prior knowledge of the teachers; the level of awareness in the field is
usually very basic or non-existent. The teachers receive training with us at
the beginning of the year but if they change, the process has to be
repeated.
There have been many positive repercussions from the
creation of the School. The community, once very dispersed, now works
together in many projects. The School has created a centre for the
community, a place which is used for meetings, courses, talks as well as
fiestas, bingos etc.
The
School is registered with the Ministry of Education, which means that the
graduates are able to go on to
High School. Most have either gone to the closest villages; Canoa or San
Vicente or have not continued with their education. The school often
receives visits from groups of teachers who come to learn about how to
implement environmental education in their own schools.
Funding
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Children weeding the school vegetable garden |
While
the School has been very successful, funding is
always a problem. Even
though the school is registered, it receives no funding from the
government.
Parents pay a fixed amount each month, regardless of how many children
they have in the School, however they are unable to pay very much. Other
funds come from farmers of the area, supporters in Bahia, friends, family,
volunteers and tourists. We continue looking for a secure source of funding.
If you
have access to any school supplies for the environmental school this
is always much appreciated eg. At the moment we need:
*Story
books in Spanish ( especially if they are environmental or based on
human values )
* Environmental Education books for teachers and students
* scissors, puzzles, art supplies and educational toys for 5-7 year olds.
* Tooth brushes, tooth paste and second hand clothes for children are always
very welcome too.
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