The HSBC Cares for the Environment Fund has renewed its support to the EkoSkola Programme for the next three years, committing almost e40,000 to the programme.

The agreement with Nature Trust (Malta), coordinators of the programme, and the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment was signed on 30 January at St Joseph School in Sliema.

The school is one of the 18 new schools participating in the programme this year. The EkoSkola programme was introduced in Malta in 2002 with six pilot schools. The number of participating schools now stands at 72. So far, four schools have secured the International Green Flag Award, a prestigious accreditation for their environmental practices at school. Schools mainly focus on waste reduction and separation, energy and water saving, composting and nature protection.

EkoSkola, an international programme run by the Foundation for Environmental Education with over 42 participating countries, aims at mobilising schools to encourage students adopt an active role in environmental decision-making in their school and community.

Apart from honouring environmental respect from an early age and fostering an education to mitigate the negative impact on the environment, every participating school aims to receive the coveted International Green Flag and work to sustain the standards required to keep the award.