NATURE PROTECTION IN EDUCATION AT SLOVAK SCHOOLS

Abstract

Awarness of nature protection is an important issue in education. Environmental studies should be understood in the Slovak school system as a cross-cutting theme. Due to the fact that the separate subject of environmental education is not taught, it is necessary to introduce the current topic to students in a different way. A new educational program is coming under the auspices of UNESCO. EkoOlympiad is a knowledge game that offers topics related to climate change, nature protection, recreation and the environment. The game is intendet for 2nd grade primary school students and all secondary school students. The competition takes place in four environmental themes – water, climate change, waste and biodiversity. More than 6 109 students took part in the EkoOlympiad. In the preparatory phase, students had the opportunity to train one topic separately each week for four weeks. One competition topic was gradually unlocked each week of the month. The preparatory phase contained only a few questions, which were later published in the regular competition rounds.