Evaluation of Eco-School Programs from the Perspective of School Principals: The Case of Bursa Province

Abstract

Education and Sustainable Development (ESD) has become a central focus for education policymakers globally, leading to the establishment of various types of schools such as ESD, sustainable, nature, environmental, forest, eco, and green schools. This study specifically uses the term "Eco-School" for consistency, reflecting its common usage in Turkey. The study aims to assess the knowledge level of Eco-School principals regarding the Eco-School program and their perspectives on its implementation. Eco-Schools prioritize environmental awareness and sustainability. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the school principals of the program's content, objectives, methods, and impacts, as well as their opinions on its effectiveness and sustainability, in order to evaluate the educational policies and practices. This study intends to offer a comprehensive evaluation of the Eco-School program from the school principals' opinions. The study sample includes 21 school principals from private and public Eco-Schools affiliated with the Nilüfer, Osmangazi, and Yıldırım District Directorates of National Education in Bursa province during the 2022-2023 academic year. In the study, the researchers collected data through semi-structured interviews and analyzed them through the content analysis method. Study findings revealed that school principals believe Eco-School effectively promotes sustainability, integrating environmental awareness into education, thereby enhancing ecological knowledge. They recognize the significant potential of Eco-School programs in environmental education and express general satisfaction with their implementation. However, they also identify some challenges, such as time limits and coordination issues that need to be addressed to enhance the program's effectiveness. Overall, the study highlights the importance of Eco-School programs in fostering environmental consciousness and the need for strategic improvements to optimize their impact.