Bali: “The Greenest School on Earth”

The largest bamboo buildings IN THE WORLD are the most striking characteristic of The Green School campus in Ubud. This K-12 “school in the jungle” (current student population 333) meets 70% of its energy demand on site (from solar collectors and a hydro-electric Vortex),

grows most of its own food, exclusively employs composting toilets and banana leaf food service plates, and attracts a talented international staff of 30 lead teachers and administrators.

The founding visionary of The Green School is a dyslexic jewelry maker from Canada named John Hardy. 

The Green School is now six years old and celebrated its first graduating class this past June. The curriculum emphasizes sustainability, independent and creative thinking, and cooperative, practical learning. Its calendar and structure are based on North American models, and it has begun a small boarding unit (across a covered bridge, made of bamboo, naturally). Tuition is about $10K, and the school aspires to draw 20% of its student body from “local” Balinese and Indonesian families. Its primary language of instruction is English, but Bahasa Indonesia is also taught and widely spoken on campus. Because foreigners cannot own land on Bali, the school operates with a long-term lease from an ancient and prominent local family.

Becoming “the greenest school on earth”  was certainly an honor and a hard-earned achievement. Nevertheless, it must be said that Bali is an ideal location for green living. A temperate tropical climate, abundant supplies of water and renewable building materials, insects that are readily amenable to biological control, and great volcanic soil give The Green School advantages that few other schools can match. Having said that, though, their model is inspiring, and their commitment to purpose is compelling.

The “green school” or “eco-schools” movement is an international enterprise. At CFS the "Building Friends" campaign includes a laudable emphasis on sustainability. The Afghan Sister School relationship is a beacon of love and devotion in a world of strife. Perhaps CFS might wish to broaden and strengthen these initiatives by forging other partnerships with like-minded school communities. The Green School, Ubud, might be one place to start.


Another potential partner is the Dyatmika School in Denpasar, where the architecture may not be so stunning but where the curriculum, staff, and school climate may be even better developed, sturdier, and more sustainable.