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Aruba Blue School Network

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Description

Blue Schools Aruba main objective is to establish Aruba’s first certified Blue School and set the foundation for a national Blue School Network. Other objectives:

Build teacher capacity and integrate Ocean Literacy into Aruba’s school curricula.
Foster strong partnerships and community engagement for ocean literacy.
Position Aruba as a Caribbean lighthouse in the Blue Schools Global Network.
Ensure sustainability, monitoring, and visibility of the Blue School initiative in Aruba.

History of success

Teacher Certification in Ocean Literacy

Through the Aula di Lama partnership, Aruba has advanced teacher capacity-building by offering the UNESCO Ocean Literacy for Educators programme. To date, nine educators have been certified, with an intensive training course scheduled for 22–23 August, further expanding the network of teachers equipped to integrate ocean literacy into their classrooms.

Supporting a Future Blue School

The Aula di Lama has also supported Prinses Amalia School in developing an interdisciplinary educational programme for fourth-grade students focused on mangrove ecosystems.

The programme integrates 12 different subjects, including history, physical education, art, and geography, and combines classroom learning with field visits to the mangroves. Building on its success, the school plans to expand the programme to fifth grade next year and establish a small mangrove nursery as part of its preparation to apply for recognition as a UNESCO Blue School.

Field Trips and Ocean Literacy Activities

The Aula di Lama has served as a hub for a wide range of experiential learning activities for schools. These have included introductory snorkeling sessions, mangrove exploration, coastal geology, beach clean-ups, and other ocean literacy workshops. Participating schools have included Whizz Kids, Nature House, Soeur Juliette, Hilario Angela, Prinses Amalia School, and Colegio Rosario, providing students with hands-on experiences that strengthen their understanding of Aruba's coastal and marine environment.