Sustainable school: the challenge of future

Abstract

In last year’s the main aim of modem societies is their sustainable development and that’s why emphasis is given in the development of sustainable education and in the creation of sustainable schools. Especially, the sustainable school is a visionary school that functions as a community. It is based on the communication and cooperation of all the members of the school community and in school life it offers opportunities for all to develop a team and participative spirit in the effort to take part in the learning environment, in the operation of schools and in the organization of local societies. A sustainable school also serves democracy and human rights, promotes culture and the environment and shapes active and creative citizens. The importance of sustainable schools is presented by many researchers, as it is needed in last years to give physical place, organizational culture and educational program, so that it can be promoted the development of global citizens, who are environmentally conscious. As it is believed in many cases students spend more hours of their most important years for their development in a school building. That’s why must be created schools, which can operate as a sense of responsibility and awareness, a starting point for developing, a source of inspiration and a space for development of creative thinking. In this way it is very important for students to be educated in a sustainable and healthy environment, where is created a culture of continuous development, learning, growth, and learning. Also, in sustainable schools is cultivated a progressive and positive school culture, so that teachers can have more learning opportunities and students can develop critical - thinking and problem- solving skills. Based on the importance of the operation of sustainable schools, in this research will be studied and evaluated the role and the specific characteristics of sustainable schools in the effort to be combined community engagement and environmental education. Especially, the interest for sustainable education is big in Cyprus at all educational levels. Sustainable education is an example of a good global practice and that’s why it has been developed a scientific dialogue for the operation of Cypriot sustainable schools. In this way, in this study will be used the method of case study, as it be analyzed the operation of the sustainable school in Nicosia of Cyprus, so that it can be understood its role in the development of sustainable education and its combination with cultural and urban heritage and urban design, with new technologies of planning and engineering for the sustainable school and with the future of Nicosia. Also, will be evaluated their main aims in the effort sustainable schools to study and promote environmental themes and themes of sustainable development. Essentially, will be presented how we have been led from the texts of the language lesson of the Primary School to the creation of the sustainable school. Except these, will be analyzed the philosophy of the curriculum through the theories of architectural education and sustainable development and finally the planning of the sustainable school of future.