News

Blue Schools Training for Africa & the Caribbean

Published

Dec 1, 2025

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Blue School Capacity-Building Training, a major collaboration between the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO and the Ocean Teacher Global Academy (OTGA).

Developed with the support of our many partners, and funded by the Government of Sweden, this initiative is designed specifically for Teachers and National/Regional Coordinators in Africa and the Caribbean. Its mission is simple yet transformative: to empower our community to turn schools into Blue Schools, bringing the ocean into the daily lives of their students.

Bridging gaps in Ocean Education

Africa and the Caribbean are home to vibrant coastal communities, yet marine education infrastructure and resources can sometimes be limited. Strengthening Ocean Literacy in these regions is essential for community resilience, climate adaptation, and the sustainable development of the Blue Economy.

This training responds to this need by providing a common global framework adapted to local realities. It aims to reduce global inequalities in access to knowledge and empower educators. By fostering greater collaboration internationally, the course helps create the conditions for long-term regional ocean stewardship.

The training offers two pathways:

For Teachers:
This pathway supports formal education practice. Participants will learn what is Ocean Literacy and how to introduce Ocean Literacy concepts in simple, practical ways that fit their existing teaching routines . They will explore how to design Blue School projects that meet certification criteria and discover educational projects and one Lighthouse initiative—Junior Coastal Monitoring—that help students connect with their local environment through observation, inquiry, and community engagement.
For Future National & National Coordinators:
This pathway offers an introduction to the core elements of coordinating a Blue School Network. Participants learn how to outline a basic coordination structure, communicate with and support schools, identify potential partners, and understand the first steps of building a national network. The pathway concludes with the development of a light, introductory action plan to guide the first years of implementation.

Join the Movement

Whether you are a teacher or someone interested in becoming a Blue School coordinator in Africa or the Caribbean, this training is for you. Learn to develop meaningful ocean projects, work toward Blue School certification, and connect with a global network committed to ocean education and action.

Flexible, Inclusive, and Accessible

To ensure this opportunity reaches those who need it most, the course is designed to be as accessible as possible. It is entirely free of charge and available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

The format is online and self-paced, requiring approximately 10-12 hours of total effort. This allows educators to fit the training around their busy schedules while connecting with a broader network of peers across the South Atlantic and Caribbean.

A Contribution to the Ocean Decade

This training is a contribution to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and the Ocean Literacy With All programme. By strengthening coordination mechanisms and supporting culturally relevant learning, we are building a legacy where Ocean Literacy is embedded into national education systems for generations to come.

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