Schools’ Environment Programme

SEP is the longest running programme of its kind in Jamaica, having been delivered in over 350 Jamaican schools, with an estimated reach of over 400,000 students and 700 teachers for over two decades. It is the Jamaica Environment Trust’s (JET’s) flagship environmental education initiative, and at its height, was Jamaica’s largest environmental education programme.

SEP addresses the generally low levels of environmental awareness among Jamaican teachers and students, and provides on the ground examples of good environmental stewardship. Participating schools use a whole school approach to carry out campus-based activities in four main areas: managing garbage, greening of school grounds, strengthening or establishing an environmental club and environmental research. The programme also encourages the development, monitoring and ongoing evaluation of environmental action plans by JET, and introduces environmental issues via workshops for teachers and students. SEP encourages schools to place focus on specific environmental thematic areas for campus-based activities and promotes project based learning. SEP also promotes environmental outreach to the wider school and local community, and celebrates schools’ achievements via an annual awards ceremony.

SEP has been funded by a grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) which is being administered by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) since 2012. Several donors from Corporate Jamaica also provide support for SEP, specifically the annual research day and awards ceremony.

Click on the links below to learn more about how to implement an environmental education programme in your school:

Schools’ Environment Programme Teacher Training Manual (Junior Schools)

Schools’ Environment Programme Teacher Training Manual (Senior Schools)