{ "$schema": "https://blueschools.org/meta.schema.json", "title": "BlueSchools.org — Directory of Global Blue Schools Programmes", "description": "Machine-readable directory of national and regional Blue Schools programmes, coordinators, and partner institutions worldwide. Maintained by The College of Exploration.", "publisher": { "name": "The College of Exploration", "url": "https://coexploration.org/", "contact": "hello@blueschools.org" }, "version": "1.0.0", "last_updated": "2026-04-22", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "source_url": "https://blueschools.org/meta.json", "meta_networks": [ { "id": "gbsn", "name": "Global Blue Schools Network", "native_name": "Global Blue Schools Network", "scope": "global", "coordinator": "Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO)", "url": "https://oceanliteracy.unesco.org/projects/blue-school-global-network", "launched": 2024, "member_countries_approx": 60, "notes": "Umbrella network launched 2024. Open to countries without national programmes. Governance board includes All-Atlantic and European regional networks." }, { "id": "nebs", "name": "Network of European Blue Schools", "native_name": "Network of European Blue Schools", "scope": "regional", "region": "Europe", "coordinator": "European Commission, DG MARE — administered via EU4Ocean Coalition", "url": "https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/theme/ocean-literacy-and-blue-skills/ocean-literacy/network-european-blue-schools_en", "launched": 2019, "certified_schools_approx": 504, "member_countries": ["AT","BE","BG","HR","CY","CZ","DK","EE","FI","FR","DE","GR","HU","IE","IT","LV","LT","LU","MT","NL","PL","PT","RO","SK","SI","ES","SE"], "associated_status": "open to Horizon Europe associated countries", "funding_programmes": ["ProBlue","SHORE","BlueLightS","EU4Ocean Challenge of the Year"], "notes": "Certification issued at two tiers: European Blue School (EU member states) and Associated Blue School (Horizon Europe associated countries)." }, { "id": "aabsn", "name": "All-Atlantic Blue Schools Network", "native_name": "All-Atlantic Blue Schools Network / Rede de Escolas Azuis do Atlântico", "scope": "regional", "region": "Atlantic basin", "coordinators": [ {"country": "Portugal", "organisation": "DGPM / Escola Azul"}, {"country": "Brazil", "organisation": "Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Maré de Ciência"}, {"country": "Argentina", "organisation": "Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación — Pampa Azul"} ], "url": "https://allatlanticblueschools.com/", "launched": 2020, "member_countries": ["AO","AR","BR","CA","CV","FR","HN","IE","MA","MX","NA","NG","PT","ST","ZA","GB","US","UY"], "scale_2022": {"schools": 430, "students": 99000, "teachers": 1700, "countries": 16}, "parent_framework": "All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance (AANCHOR)" }, { "id": "usabs", "name": "USA Blue Schools", "native_name": "USA Blue Schools", "scope": "national", "country": "United States", "coordinator": "National Marine Educators Association (NMEA)", "supporter": "NOAA Office of Education", "url": "https://www.marine-ed.org/usablueschools", "launched": 2022, "certified_schools_2024_25": 43, "certified_schools_approx": 50, "states_active_2024_25": 7, "endorsement": "UN Ocean Decade-endorsed project", "regional_chapters": ["Long Island Sound Schools","Tri-State Blue Schools","Hawai'i Blue Schools"] } ], "national_programmes": [ { "country": "Portugal", "country_code": "PT", "language": "pt", "programme_name": "Escola Azul", "programme_status": "national — first in world", "coordinator_organisation": "Direção-Geral de Política do Mar (DGPM)", "partner_ministries": ["Ministério do Mar","Ministério da Educação"], "partners": ["Ciência Viva","Instituto de Educação, Universidade de Lisboa"], "url": "https://escolaazul.pt/", "launched": 2017, "certified_schools": 603, "students_approx": 130000, "partners_count": 132, "networks": ["nebs","aabsn","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/pt/", "notes": "The founding programme. Reference model for all subsequent Blue Schools initiatives." }, { "country": "Brazil", "country_code": "BR", "language": "pt-BR", "programme_name": "Escola Azul Brasil", "programme_status": "national", "coordinator_organisation": "Maré de Ciência — Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp)", "coordinator_person": "Ronaldo Christofoletti", "coordinator_role": "Member, UN Ocean Decade Communications Advisory Committee; IOCARIBE Chair of Ocean Literacy Task Team", "partner_ministries": ["Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovações (MCTI)","Comissão Interministerial para os Recursos do Mar (CIRM)"], "endorsement": "UNESCO-recognized", "url": "https://escolaazul.maredeciencia.eco.br/", "launched": 2021, "curriculum_milestone": "April 10, 2025 — first country in the world to include cultura oceânica in national curriculum, via Protocolo de Intenções at CNPq Brasília (Fórum Internacional Currículo Azul)", "flagship_activity": "Olimpíada Brasileira do Oceano (O2)", "co_lead": true, "networks": ["aabsn","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/pt-br/" }, { "country": "Argentina", "country_code": "AR", "language": "es", "programme_name": "Pampa Azul", "programme_status": "national", "coordinator_organisation": "Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación — Centro Cultural de la Ciencia", "url": "https://allatlanticblueschools.com/country/argentina/", "launched": 2020, "co_lead": true, "networks": ["aabsn","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/es/" }, { "country": "Spain", "country_code": "ES", "language": "es", "programme_name": "Red Española de Escuelas Azules", "programme_status": "national", "coordinator_organisation": "Distributed regional coordination (network launched Nov 2024 at ReeducaMar III, MITECO)", "regional_coordinators": [ {"region": "Canarias", "organisation": "PLOCAN (Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias)"}, {"region": "Valencia", "organisation": "Oceanogràfic Valencia — Fundación Oceanogràfic"}, {"region": "Euskadi", "organisation": "AZTI"}, {"region": "Catalunya / national spokesperson", "organisation": "PHAROS", "person": "Eli Bonfill"} ], "url": "https://escuelasazules.es/", "launched": 2024, "parent_ministry": "Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO)", "networks": ["nebs","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/es/" }, { "country": "Italy", "country_code": "IT", "language": "it", "programme_name": "Rete delle Scuole Blu (in construction)", "programme_status": "forming — national coordination established 2026", "coordinator_organisation": "Commissione Nazionale Italiana per l'UNESCO", "key_partners": [ "Fondazione Acqua dell'Elba", "Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano", "ANCIM (Associazione Nazionale Comuni Isole Minori)", "Marevivo", "Ocean Decade Mediterranean" ], "url": "https://www.unesco.it/", "launched_regional": 2024, "launched_national": 2026, "milestone_2024": "Elba Island schools — first Italian cluster certified", "milestone_2025": "Extension to all Italian minor islands (Nov 2025) via ANCIM partnership", "milestone_2026": "National webinar 'Scuole Blu in Italia: educare all'oceano, costruire la rete' — 8 April 2026", "networks": ["nebs","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/it/" }, { "country": "Greece", "country_code": "GR", "language": "el", "programme_name": "Δίκτυο Ευρωπαϊκών Μπλε Σχολείων (Greek chapter of NEBS)", "programme_status": "active — among top European participants", "coordinator_organisation": "MEdIES (Mediterranean Education Initiative for Environment and Sustainability)", "parent_organisation": "MIO-ECSDE (Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development)", "key_partners": [ "HELMEPA (Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association)", "HCMR / ΕΛΚΕΘΕ (Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anávyssos)" ], "url": "https://medies.net/", "featured_schools": [ "6th Primary School, Alexandroupolis", "11th Primary School, Alexandroupolis", "D.S. Gournon, Crete", "8th Gymnasium, Korydallos" ], "erasmus_projects": ["BlueS_Med","Ride The Wave (with Marevivo IT)"], "terminology": "θαλάσσιος γραμματισμός (marine literacy) — preferred over ωκεάνιος αλφαβητισμός", "networks": ["nebs","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/el/" }, { "country": "Sweden", "country_code": "SE", "language": "sv", "programme_name": "Swedish chapter of NEBS", "programme_status": "active", "coordinator_organisation": "Havsmiljöinstitutet (Swedish Institute for the Marine Environment), University of Gothenburg", "funding_role": "Funder of IOC-UNESCO Blue Schools Capacity-Building for Africa & Caribbean, 2025-26 (Government of Sweden)", "url": "https://www.havsmiljoinstitutet.se/", "certified_2023_count": 4, "featured_schools": [ {"name": "Hedens skola", "location": "Hönö, Öckerö", "project": "Havets dag"}, {"name": "Strömstad gymnasium", "location": "Strömstad, Bohuslän", "project": "Livet vid havet"} ], "key_partners": [ "University of Gothenburg", "Blåmusslan (marinpedagogiskt center, Askim)", "Kristineberg Center" ], "eu_projects_partner": ["BlueLightS","SHORE","ProBleu"], "networks": ["nebs","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/sv/" }, { "country": "Netherlands", "country_code": "NL", "language": "nl", "programme_name": "Dutch Blue Schools (NEBS member)", "programme_status": "active — growing", "coordinator_organisation": "None formal yet — NEBS direct certification", "featured_schools": [ {"name": "Scholen aan Zee", "location": "Den Helder", "milestone": "First Dutch secondary (VO) Blue School — certified 13 September 2022"}, {"name": "Vonk", "location": "Noord-Holland", "milestone": "Received seven Blue School certificates in 2025"} ], "key_partners": [ "NIOZ (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel)", "TNO", "NPO Klokhuis (public broadcaster children's programme)", "Wave Makers", "Fresk" ], "terminology_preferred": "oceaangeletterdheid / waterwijsheid", "networks": ["nebs","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/nl/" }, { "country": "Croatia", "country_code": "HR", "language": "hr", "programme_name": "Plave škole (NEBS member)", "programme_status": "active — individual certification path, no national network yet", "featured_schools": [ {"name": "OŠ Josip Pupačić", "location": "Omiš", "activities": "EU Blue School, GLOBE programme, #EUBeachCleanup 2023"}, {"name": "SŠ Mate Blažine", "location": "Labin", "certified": "2024/25", "project": "Inicijativa Plavih škola: Čuvari mora"} ], "key_organisations": [ "Plavi svijet institut (Blue World Institute, Lošinj — runs 'Mali plavi svijet' since 2008)", "Udruga Sunce (Split)" ], "networks": ["nebs","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/hr/" }, { "country": "Germany", "country_code": "DE", "language": "de", "programme_name": "German Blue Schools (NEBS eligible, no national programme yet)", "programme_status": "emerging — Schleswig-Holstein cluster active", "coordinator_organisation": "None formal — distributed initiatives", "key_initiatives": [ {"name": "Ocean Youngsters", "organisation": "Ocean Summit + Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein", "url": "https://ocean-summit.de/", "goal": "Train ~50 Meermacher*innen ambassadors by Feb 2027 in 9 secondary schools"}, {"name": "Institute for Art and Innovation (IFAI)", "activity": "Hosts nationwide online events 'Wie bringen wir das Meer ins Klassenzimmer?'"} ], "major_research_partners": [ "GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung, Kiel", "Alfred-Wegener-Institut (AWI), Bremerhaven" ], "networks": ["nebs — eligible","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/de/" }, { "country": "Indonesia", "country_code": "ID", "language": "id", "programme_name": "Sekolah Biru (no formal national programme)", "programme_status": "government-led field-school activities — not formal national Blue Schools programme yet", "coordinator_organisation": "Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Kemaritiman dan Investasi (Kemenko Marves / CMMAI-RI)", "url": "https://maritim.go.id/", "key_institutions": [ "Universitas Negeri Malang — Department of Biology (ocean literacy education research)", "Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan (KKP)" ], "terminology": "literasi laut / Sekolah Biru", "regional_comparison": "Malaysia has national focal point and 5 active Blue Schools", "networks": ["gbsn — potential"], "languages_page": "/id/" }, { "country": "Taiwan / Hong Kong", "country_code": "TW-HK", "language": "zh-Hant", "programme_name": "No formal national Blue Schools programme", "programme_status": "active ecosystem, no formal network membership", "key_institutions": [ {"name": "臺灣海洋教育中心 (Taiwan Marine Education Center, TMEC)", "location": "National Taiwan Ocean University, commissioned by Ministry of Education", "url": "https://tmec.ntou.edu.tw/"}, {"name": "海洋委員會 (Ocean Affairs Council, OAC)", "location": "Taiwan"}, {"name": "HKMPA (Hong Kong Marine Protection Alliance)"}, {"name": "Ocean3C (Hong Kong)"}, {"name": "Living Oceans Education (Hong Kong)"}, {"name": "Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong"} ], "networks": ["gbsn — potential"], "languages_page": "/zh/" }, { "country": "China (mainland) / Singapore", "country_code": "CN-SG", "language": "zh-Hans", "programme_name": "No formal national Blue Schools programme", "programme_status": "active research and education ecosystem; no formal network membership", "key_institutions": [ "Shanghai Ocean University (上海海洋大学)", "Ocean University of China, Qingdao (中国海洋大学)", "Xiamen University — College of Ocean and Earth Sciences (厦门大学海洋与地球学院)", "自然资源部海洋局 (Ministry of Natural Resources — former State Oceanic Administration, China)", "NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute (Singapore)" ], "networks": ["gbsn — potential"], "languages_page": "/zh-hans/" }, { "country": "Japan", "country_code": "JP", "language": "ja", "programme_name": "No formal national Blue Schools programme", "programme_status": "active ecosystem through ocean education centers and UNESCO ASPnet", "key_institutions": [ {"name": "COLE (東京大学海洋教育センター / Center for Ocean Literacy and Education)", "location": "University of Tokyo", "funder": "Nippon Foundation"}, {"name": "OPRI (Ocean Policy Research Institute)", "parent": "Sasakawa Peace Foundation"}, {"name": "日本財団 Nippon Foundation", "role": "Major ocean education funder"}, {"name": "ユネスコスクール (UNESCO ASPnet Japan)", "scale": "1,083 schools — largest ASPnet worldwide", "programme": "Pioneer School Program (PSP)"} ], "networks": ["gbsn — potential"], "languages_page": "/ja/" }, { "country": "Republic of Korea", "country_code": "KR", "language": "ko", "programme_name": "No formal national Blue Schools programme", "programme_status": "strong research ecosystem; national ocean-education portal exists", "key_institutions": [ {"name": "KIOST (Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology / 한국해양과학기술원)", "location": "Busan", "url": "https://www.kiost.ac.kr/"}, {"name": "KOEM (Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation / 해양환경공단)", "url": "https://www.koem.or.kr/"}, {"name": "KMI (Korea Maritime Institute / 한국해양수산개발원)", "role": "policy think tank", "url": "https://www.kmi.re.kr/"}, {"name": "해양교육포털 (Korea Ocean Education Portal)", "operator": "Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries", "url": "https://www.ilovesea.or.kr/"}, {"name": "Pukyong National University (부경대학교) and Korea Maritime & Ocean University (한국해양대학교)", "location": "Busan"} ], "terminology": "해양 리터러시 / 해양교육", "networks": ["gbsn — potential"], "languages_page": "/ko/" }, { "country": "Morocco", "country_code": "MA", "language": "ar/fr", "programme_name": "Morocco — All-Atlantic member", "programme_status": "All-Atlantic participant; national coordinator being established", "representative_person": "Othman Cherkaoui", "representative_role": "Attended São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Ocean Literacy, August 2025 — IOCARIBE / IOC-UNESCO capacity-building", "networks": ["aabsn","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/fr/ (regional context)" }, { "country": "France", "country_code": "FR", "language": "fr", "programme_name": "French institutions participating in NEBS and All-Atlantic", "programme_status": "no formal national network; institutional participation", "key_institutions": [ "IFREMER (Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer)", "Institut océanographique (Fondation Albert Ier, Prince de Monaco)", "L'École des océans (Canada — Dalhousie University + National Film Board, bilingual FR-EN)", "École Bleue Outre-mer (TAAF / Marion Dufresne)" ], "networks": ["nebs","aabsn","gbsn"], "languages_page": "/fr/" }, { "country": "African nations — Atlantic chapter", "country_code": "AFR-ATL", "language": "multiple", "programme_name": "All-Atlantic African participants", "programme_status": "advancing — Cabo Verde, Senegal, South Africa noted by UNESCO-IOC as advancing national networks", "countries_active": ["Cabo Verde","Senegal","South Africa","Angola","Namibia","Nigeria","São Tomé and Príncipe"], "capacity_building": { "programme": "Blue Schools Capacity-Building Training – Africa & Caribbean Regions", "organiser": "IOC-UNESCO via Ocean Teacher Global Academy (OTGA)", "funder": "Government of Sweden", "dates": "18 Dec 2025 – 28 Feb 2026", "url": "https://iocaribe.ioc-unesco.org/en/event/3112" }, "networks": ["aabsn","gbsn"] }, { "country": "Caribbean nations", "country_code": "CARIB", "language": "multiple", "programme_name": "IOCARIBE Blue Schools", "programme_status": "active — National Coordinators identified in Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados", "coordinator_organisation": "IOCARIBE (IOC sub-commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions)", "task_team_chair": "Ronaldo Christofoletti (Brazil)", "url": "https://iocaribe.ioc-unesco.org/", "countries_active": ["Trinidad and Tobago","Barbados","Antigua and Barbuda"], "networks": ["gbsn"] } ], "reference_resources": [ { "name": "UNESCO Ocean Literacy Portal", "url": "https://oceanliteracy.unesco.org/", "type": "policy and framework" }, { "name": "EU Maritime Forum — Ocean Literacy & Blue Skills", "url": "https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/theme/ocean-literacy-and-blue-skills_en", "type": "regulatory and funding" }, { "name": "EMSEA — European Marine Science Educators Association", "url": "https://www.emseanet.eu/", "type": "professional network", "historical_role": "Venue where Blue Schools concept was first discussed" }, { "name": "UN Ocean Decade 2021–2030", "url": "https://oceandecade.org/", "type": "global framework" }, { "name": "The College of Exploration", "url": "https://coexploration.org/", "type": "archival partner", "role": "Maintains Ocean Literacy Framework archives from founding documents (2004 onward)" } ], "framework": { "name": "Ocean Literacy Framework", "latest_version": "Ocean Literacy Guide v3.1 (2021)", "principles_count": 7, "grade_bands": ["K-2","3-5","6-8","9-12"], "custodian": "IOC-UNESCO with NMEA (historical US custodianship)", "archive_partner": "The College of Exploration (coexploration.org)" } }