Escola Azul

The Portuguese Blue School is an educational programme of the Portuguese Ministry of the Sea, developed at the Directorate-General for Maritime Policy. Its main goal is to improve the level of Ocean Literacy in schools, creating responsible and active generations that contribute for the Ocean's sustainability. This programme distinguishes and guides the schools that work on Ocean Literacy, creating a community that brings together schools, the sea sector, municipalities, industry, NGO’s and other entities that aim for an active role in Ocean Literacy. The main goal is to engage school communities to understand the Ocean’s influence on us and our influence on the Ocean. A Blue School integrates the local community in its actions, interacts with partners from the programme partners’ network and engages its students to create different bonds with the Ocean, transforming what they learn into effective attitude changes, thus contributing for the creation of a blue society. A Blue School promotes the development of critical thinking and initiative in students, as well as an integrated and holistic view of the Ocean. It includes different subjects, in transversal, innovative and creative learning. Blue School is supported and contributes directly for the implementation of the UN’s Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).