Cultivating Ocean Guardians: Evaluating a Novel Pedagogical Model for Enhanced Ocean Citizenship in Basic Education

The implementation of the pedagogical model developed by Schio and Reis ( 2024 ) offers a transformative approach to fostering Ocean citizenship among students in basic education. This model integrates systemic educational approaches, Ocean Literacy, and citizenship theories into a hands-on citizen science framework. Through activities such as coastal monitoring, data collection, advocacy actions, and interdisciplinary projects, the model has succeeded in raising awareness and promoting sustainable Ocean practices among students, teachers, and their communities. Over two school years, the model engaged over 1500 students and 76 teachers across 36 Portuguese schools, demonstrating its scalability and adaptability to different educational contexts, including schools without direct access to the coast. The model’s contribution to the Ocean Decade challenges is evident through its diverse educational outcomes, which build knowledge, develop skills, and foster a personal connection to the marine environment, while instilling a strong sense of Ocean citizenship in students. Piloting the pedagogical model provided a robust framework for integrating Ocean Literacy into basic education, encouraging a generation of Ocean stewards committed to preserving marine ecosystems. These efforts represent a vital step towards the Ocean Decade’s broader objectives and the development of a blue curriculum in basic education.