For the third consecutive time, Gozo College Xewkija Primary School was awarded the prestigious international award – the Green Flag Award. Members of the EkoSkola Committee of the school were presented with this award by the Minister for Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo during the annual EkoSkola seminar held at Qala Primary School on Fridaym 22 November. The Green Flag award is an international recognition awarded to eco-schools who promote an environmental and sustainable developmental education in their schools.

The Eco Schools programme was launched in Malta in 2002 by Nature Trust (Malta) as the Malta representative of FEE. The programme is now being run in the majority of the schools in Malta and Gozo, making it one of the biggest and most successful environmental programmes in the Maltese Islands. EkoSkola is about empowering students in the running of this programme thus ensuring that our islands will have more responsible citizens in the future.  The aim of Eco-Schools is to raise students’ awareness of sustainable development issues through classroom study and community action.

The Gozo College Xewkija Primary EkoSkola Committee is formed by the majority of children, members of the staff and the local community who strive to promote environmental and healthy habits for all the school community.  For the past two years, Gozo College Xewkija Primary’s incessant green initiatives were rewarded by a number of awards. This success was also a result of the joint venture and cooperation of the Gozo College, Xewkija Parish, Xewkija Local Council and all NGOs as well as the preceeding head of school Saviour Tabone. The Committee will now be meeting the school community to discuss and celebrate this special day.