The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) has promoted the launch and consolidation in Gran Canaria of the Canary Islands Blue Schools Network, which it coordinates. This initiative will connect educational centres and marine education organisations to strengthen ocean literacy on the island, facilitate access to resources and new funding opportunities, and accelerate the integration of the ocean into students’ learning from Primary Education through Vocational Training.
Today, PLOCAN held the Blue Schools Seminar in Gran Canaria at its facilities in Taliarte, a training day aimed at teachers from Primary, Secondary and Vocational Education on the island.
The meeting, במסגרת the European PHAROS project coordinated by PLOCAN, and the Gran Canaria Living Lab—jointly organised by PLOCAN and the Canary Islands Maritime Cluster and taking place from yesterday, Thursday, until tomorrow, Saturday—brought together teachers and organisations linked to blue education to strengthen ties between the education community and the ocean, fostering sustainability, innovation and environmental management.
During the session, the main new developments of the Blue Schools initiative were presented. This European proposal connects classrooms with the marine environment to promote ocean culture and learning based on real-world challenges. Among other topics, the seminar addressed what it means to become a Blue School, the benefits for students and schools, the certification process, the educational resources available, and funding opportunities to promote blue education projects in Gran Canaria.
“From PLOCAN, as the coordinating body of the Canary Islands Blue Schools Network, our goal is to particularly strengthen training for teachers and students, providing tools and guidance with scientific rigour so that teachers and learners understand, value and actively engage in caring for the marine environment—integrating it into the curriculum and school life as useful, accessible and transformative learning,” explained Silvia Martín, a PLOCAN researcher and lead of educational initiatives such as EduSen and EduBlue, as well as of the Canary Islands Blue Schools Network.
According to Eli Bonfill, PHAROS Blue Schools lead, board member of the Spanish Blue Schools Network and technical coordinator of the ProBleu project, “initiatives such as Blue Schools are key to raising awareness among these new generations of boys and girls who will be the future guardians of our oceans, and also to the importance of training their teachers so they can pass on this information.”
“This initiative is not focused only on students, but also on working with teachers and providing them with the necessary resources to transmit this knowledge with scientific rigour, in contact with the organisations that have this expertise, so that in the end it becomes a team effort in which everyone contributes their bit to ensure the sea becomes part of the curriculum of all educational centres,” she added.
One of the milestones of the meeting was the official presentation of the Canary Islands Blue Schools Network, a collaborative space for educational centres and organisations working in marine education. The initiative aims to facilitate partnerships, share experiences and coordinate upcoming actions that strengthen the presence of the ocean in the curriculum and in school life, connecting classroom learning with activities and experiences across the territory.
The day also served to showcase the work of schools already involved in this initiative, with the presentation of inspiring experiences demonstrating how blue education can be integrated across different educational stages and contexts.
In addition, a mini-fair was held during the session, where public administrations and organisations shared with participants some of the initiatives, resources and teaching materials they offer the community to support different training actions aimed at promoting blue education.
The Blue Schools Seminar is part of the programme of the PHAROS mega-event, taking place in Gran Canaria throughout this week with complementary activities aimed at different audiences, broadening the reach of ocean literacy and social commitment to the marine environment.
