The Albatross Foundation is working with Liceo Naval Galapagos to develop proposals and raise funds for a specialist environmental education school on San Cristobal island.
The new school will build on the existing facility which the navy provides for the children of service people and townspeople, and will make up for the lack of scientific education available through the existing educational system.
This drawing shows the proposed secondary school; there would also be a primary school.
182 children currently attend the Liceo Naval Galápagos: 153 in the kindergarten/primary school and 29 in the secondary school. The present facility has a small computer lab, but no sports facilities.
Mission
To create a unified Educational Facility, aspiring to academic excellence, and
supporting Ecuador's educational principles and aims with an integrated educational
approach to encompass bilingualism, computer literacy, environmental science
for children and young people.
Current situation in the Galápagos
Many South American nations have substantial external debt commitments, and
public expenditure is limited by that as well as by developing nation status.
The Galápagos islands belong to Ecuador and are that country's responsibility,
but they are also of key interest to the richer countries of the world because
of their unique situation and ecosystems. In terms of educational practice in
the province, the Liceo Naval de Galápagos reports that:
The case for a specialist environmental
education
By reason of its climate and flora and fauna, the Galápagos Islands constitute
a focus in Ecuador for international tourism which requires the local population
to understand and support the defense of the ecosystem.
There are few who fully understand the problems facing the environment in Ecuador, and this highlights the need for an educational institution which is committed to enabling students to value and defend the ecosystem.
The Galápagos islands constitute, for the country and for the armed forces especially, an ecological reserve which requires defense and responsible participation by all Ecuadorians, so that all actions lead us to achieve favorable conditions for life.
The Galápagos Unidad Educativa de Gestión Ambiental will break with tradition in relation to the educational curriculum, it will focus from an holistic perspective on the relationships which must exist between humans, nature and the universe.
The opening of the Unidad Educativa de Gestión Ambiental Liceo Galápagos will promote tourism and local culture; residents will receive ongoing training about environmental protection, through environmental groups, cultural organizations, sports clubs, workshops and professional training seminars.
Strategic objectives
2004 - establish the educational infrastructure including a library, computer room, and language laboratory for learning English; computer studies, physics, chemistry, biology, and general science
2006 - recruit a full complement of secondary students in the morning classes
2007 - construction of primary schools on Isabela and Santa Cruz islands
2008 - facilities for recycling organic and inorganic waste
2009 - sports facilities for the schools
2010 - recruit a full complement of secondary students in the evening classes
In addition it is planned to expand the technical provisions of the schools so that there is a ratio of computer workstations 1/10 students, language lab workstations 1/20, and internet access points 1/20.
El Liceo de Galápagos will be an open door to the world which will guarantee access to leadership in ecology, trilingualism, values and technical-scientific training.