Environmental Education in the School Systems of Latin America and the Caribbean. Working Papers 4.

This study examines the status and position of civic education and environmental education in the formal curricula of primary and secondary school systems in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. The study consists of two parts: (1) a review of the literature related to each subject and its status in the school systems and the LAC region; and (2) information gathered directly from the Ministries of Education in 15 countries of the region. The final reports from the study bring together the results of the review of literature and the questionnaire administered in each country. The reports have been prepared both in English and Spanish. Material in each report is organized in three main parts: Part I presents the analysis of the data; Part II, the individual country reports; and Part III, additional information about organizations active in these fields or other programs of interest. The study points to the need for: (1) teacher training in environmental education techniques and curriculum development that is part of the training process; (2) the development and maintenance of the political will of education authorities; and (3) collaboration in the development of environmental education programs between nongovernmental organizations and the official education sector. (LZ)