TOKYO, July 9 (KUNA) -- The first training course of Kuwaiti Eco-Kids Instructors was held in Tokyo, for six teachers from Kuwait's intermediate schools.

The teachers are in Japan to learn how to evaluate and respond to childrens performance under a Japanese-developed environmental education program called "Kids' ISO 14000," implemented in Kuwaiti public schools in May.

A two-week course completed this week also included sessions on issues such as the methodology of statistic data analysis and CO2 evaluation, management of operation of the program, as well as site visits to Tokyo Metropolitan Government and an elementary school where the Kids' ISO 14000 Programme is implemented.

Having launched a two-year introduction program targeting over 1,000 children in the sixth grade, Kuwait became the first country in the Middle East to introduce this program, developed by Japan's non-governmental organization International Art and Technology Cooperation Organization (ArTech).

The first phase that focused on introductory level was implemented in May at 10 intermediate schools, where some 270 children participated. The aim of the introductory level is to experience the children on the environmental management method, according to ArTech.

The idea of the environment education project is the positive result after years of joint efforts by the two countries. It was introduced in the "Master Plan of the Environment Protection Policy of the State of Kuwait" presented by Japanese Co-Chairman Hiroshi Saito to his Kuwaiti counterpart Wael Al-Sagar at the 10th Kuwaiti-Japanese Businessmen's Committee meeting in 2004.

Last November, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Education and ArTech signed a memorandum of understanding to implement the program in the Kuwaiti school system.

When Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid a visit to Kuwait from April 30, the two countries expressed their willingness to promote and support the Kids' ISO 14000 Programme in Kuwait in a consistent manner, according to the joint statement then issued by the two governments.

The Kuwaiti government expressed its appreciation for the Businessmen Committee's master plan and the continued bilateral cooperation in the field of environmental projects.

"Through this programme, Kuwaiti children are expected to attain the ability of self-management to solve their environmental issues by themselves and to foster appropriate conscience on environment protection," said the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME), the organization which has been supporting the project.

JCCME also said that joint effort for implementing this Kids' ISO 14000 Programme would definitely strengthen and enhance the cooperative bilateral relations between Japan and Kuwait.

Kids ISO 14000 Programme also provides children with the opportunity to act for reduction of electricity and water consumption at households, so that it contributes to Kuwaits current campaign to reduce power consumption during the summer.

With the purpose of encouraging environmental awareness among children, Kids' ISO 14000 Programme was first launched in Japan in 2000.

Since November 2006, Kids ISO 14000 Programme became one of the programs of the United Nations-Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014 (UN-DESD).

By 2007, more than 150,000 children participated in this program. In addition, students and people at the United Nations University (UNU), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and ISO are also involved in and supporting this programme.

By Miyoko Ishigami