WAM Abu Dhabi, May 29th, 2012 (WAM) -- An Evaluation Committee consisting of members from the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) is now visiting the shortlisted schools for the final phase of the Sustainable Schools Project for the academic session 2011-2012.

Starting from last week, shortlisted schools based upon the continuous assessment of their school's monthly reports and final environmental report carried out earlier are being visited for the final evaluation. This evaluation process which will continue until the end of this week will be based upon the students' presentation of their work, examination of the supporting evidence for their reported activities, interviews with students, teachers and the school administration.

The Sustainable Schools Initiative, which was launched by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi in 2009, supported by Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and sponsored by BP, is a whole school initiative, addressing students, parents, teachers, administrative, non-teaching staff and linking them with Emirate's community and expected outcomes to reduce our footprint and promote sustainability.

Gayatri Raghwa, Deputy Manager, Environmentally Sustainable Schools Section at EAD and member of the evaluation committee said during their visit to Islamia English School today that: "the Sustainable Schools Project began with 23 schools and now has over 103 schools participating. In this academic year 30 out of 103 schools have been shortlisted for the final phase of evaluation of which 18 schools are in Abu Dhabi, 7 in Al Ain and 5 in western region".

Raghwa stressed that these schools have put in outstanding efforts to make their schools greener and their actions towards sustainability will be further evaluated via a school visit by the evaluation committee.

She noted that the winning schools will be rewarded in the Sustainable Schools Awards Ceremony 2011-2012 which is scheduled to be held on June 6, 2012. "Sustainable Schools Awards is a platform to recognise schools that have attained excellence in executing all of or any of the components of the initiative listed above. Schools that receive these awards are recognised on the basis of not only obtaining the maximum possible ratings for all of or any of the components listed above, but have also set standards of excellence by choosing systematic, creative and innovative approaches while undertaking the tasks required to execute the project and help achieve a holistic and a sustainable outcome in their schools" Mrs. Raghwa said.

Raghwa said that "the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), which is EAD's strategic partner in this project, has launched the Environment Health and Safety (EHS) programme which shares great synergy with the components of the Sustainable Schools Initiative and the two entities has thus been working very closely on this project.

WAM/ES/AM