The two officially accredited green schools are developing green learning environments based on UNESCO’s green school quality standard focusing on four dimensions: governance, facilities and operations, teaching, and local community engagement.
At the Overseas School of Colombo in Sri Lanka – a country with a tropical climate that houses diverse plants and animals – the culture of sustainability is taking root and contributing to societal transformation. Through its pioneering Food Forest Initiative, the school is transforming how young learners interact with nature, community, and their own education.
Aligned with UNESCO’s green school quality standard, the school has converted its outdoor spaces into vibrant ecosystems, where students explore key scientific concepts such as seasonal cycles, photosynthesis, and biodiversity.
A notable feature of this programme is the school’s Food Forest, designed with a multi-layered canopy structure mimicking natural forest ecosystems. Mid-level crops such as papaya, banana, and cinnamon, thrive under the upper canopy created by the mango trees, while edible vines climb trellises.
Students design garden layouts, build compost systems, and harvest crops – all while learning about the interdependence of living organisms. They also cook and share their harvest with community members, allowing them to develop a deep, personal connection to the environment and to their local community.
“What I love most about the garden is that the soil is rich and fresh, and good for planting seeds,” explains one of the participating students.
In South Africa, UNESCO’s green school quality standard has also inspired Moduopo Primary School. Driven by Grade 7 teacher and environmental coordinator, Christina Lephalala, the school is turning a local wetland into an environmental learning hub and has integrated environmental goals into the school’s improvement plan.
This is more than just a school project. It is about giving our learners real-world experiences that empower them to protect their future. They are no longer just students but environmental leaders, and this wetland is their legacy.
The journey began during a school-led water quality testing session, where students and educators discovered that a nearby wetland was severely degraded. A once vibrant ecosystem was now plagued by pollution, invasive species, and neglected waste.
With support from UNESCO and Greening Education Partnership, collective effort was initiated to clean the wetland as well as raising awareness for the importance of a clean environment and a healthy community. The wetland has evolved into a ‘living classroom’ where students test water quality, track pollution, study invasive plants, and map ecosystem changes.
Though geographically separated, both schools share a common vision: to empower students as environmental leaders through hands-on, community-rooted education.
“These two schools are great examples of how UNESCO’s green school quality standard is being put into practice,” says Julia Heiss, chief of education for sustainable development at UNESCO. “It highlights the power of hands-on learning to empower students to understand and protect their environment”.
