Methods to teach environmental awareness in focus at course organized by OSCE Centre in Astana

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 22 November 2010 - Promoting environmental education and sustainable development for schoolchildren through multimedia educational packages is the focus of two training seminars organized this week in Almaty by the OSCE Centre in Astana.

Secondary school teachers start a two-day seminar today, and a train-the-trainers workshop will be held Wednesday through Friday. About 50 people are taking part in the two events, organized by the OSCE Centre in close partnership with the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia, UNDP, UNESCO and Chevron.

The courses focus on the Green Pack, an educational multi-media kit.

"Its use in schools will compliment the country's sustainable development efforts by emphasizing that children must adopt new values, attitudes and behaviour at school, home and in society," said Ambassador Alexander Keltchewsky, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana, in a message conveyed to participants.

The Green Pack comprises a teacher's handbook with lesson plans and factsheets for the schoolchildren; a collection of animated video clips and educational films; an interactive CD-ROM with extensive information on various environmental topics, and a pedagogical game.

Participants in the two courses will discussed how the kit will be used throughout Kazakhstan. The courses form part of a project that builds on the Centre's previous sustainable development education projects for students of universities, secondary and primary schools.