ROLE OF SMART GREEN SCHOOLS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The global environmental crisis and the urgent need for sustainable development have underscored the importance of integrating environmental education and education for sustainable development into formal learning systems. Smart green schools are educational institutions designed and equipped with eco-friendly infrastructure, sustainable practices and digital technologies with the aim of advancing environmental education and education for sustainable development among others. Smart green schools serve as educational spaces and practical models of sustainability, fostering students’ environmental literacy, critical thinking, and responsible citizenship. By incorporating green building principles, renewable energy use, waste reduction strategies, and digital tools for interactive learning, these schools provide experiential learning opportunities that reinforce sustainable values and behaviors. The paper assessed the impact of smart green school initiatives on the environmental literacy developed amongst students. It determined the particular features of smart green school surroundings that aid in the achievement of environmental education and education for sustainable development. It also explored the challenges that schools encounter in adopting smart green and sustainable policies and articulated strategies for the improvement of smart green school frameworks into the national education system for the sustainability development goals. Findings indicate that smart green schools significantly enhanced the effectiveness of environmental education, promote sustainability competencies, and prepare learners to actively contribute to a more sustainable future. The study recommends that governments and stakeholders should increase the budgetary allocation for the establishment and operation of green school projects, provide incentives for schools adopting smart green practices, adopt green building designs like energy-efficient lighting, solar panels and water recycling systems, incorporate smart technologies like digital monitoring for energy use to create a hands- on learning environment and provide trainings for teachers to equip them with the relevant knowledge and pedagogical skills needed to teach environmental education and education for sustainable development effectively in smart green environments.