To broaden pupils' and teachers' understanding of environmental and sustainability issues, AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the State Education Development Agency (VIAA). The aim of the agreement is to support the achievement of the learning outcomes set out in the national education standards and the preservation and enhancement of the value of forests, as well as to foster a responsible attitude towards nature among children and young people.
Līga Abizāre, Head of Environmental Education at LVM, explains:
“The forest is the largest classroom in Latvia, and for 20 years now “Latvijas valsts meži” has been developing free environmental education programmes there for general education schools, strengthening pupils' connection with the natural environment and encouraging them to discover Latvia's natural riches. More than half of Latvia's territory is covered by forest, so in the current geopolitical situation regular learning in nature is becoming ever more important, building children's and young people's skills for survival in the outdoors and strengthening their sense of belonging to their own land. The newly concluded memorandum confirms this once again.”
The memorandum provides for closer mutual communication and cooperation in delivering educational activities and developing teaching materials. There are also plans to make the methodological materials produced by LVM available on mape.gov.lv, the unified platform of teaching materials for schools. Alongside this, work will continue on strengthening cooperation to promote forest environmental education, providing class teachers and careers advisers with information about further education opportunities in the field.
Inese Liepiņa, Senior Expert at the VIAA General and Vocational Education Content Division:
“Cooperation with AS “Latvijas valsts meži” will allow pupils and teachers to make use of the varied learning opportunities the forest offers, to gain new experience and unforgettable impressions in a non-traditional setting. The teaching materials created will be available to a wide circle of teachers and will help to diversify the teaching approaches used day to day.”
LVM has supported education for sustainable development since 2005, together with the European Forest Pedagogics Association, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Educational Innovation of the University of Latvia and other partners, with the aim of promoting competence-based education about the forest in Latvian schools. Every year more than 20 000 children, young people and teachers explore the forest through the wide range of LVM school programmes. More information at www.lvm.lv/skolam