1 The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005 – 2014) The United...

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The United Nations Decade The United Nations Decade of Education of Education

for Sustainable Development for Sustainable Development (2005 – 2014)(2005 – 2014)

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“ Education - in all its forms and at all levels

- is not only an end in itself but is also one

of the most powerful instruments we have

for bringing about the changes required to

achieve sustainable development. ”

Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO

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Why education for Why education for sustainable development?sustainable development?

If we could turn the population of the earth into a small community of 100 people, keeping the same proportions we have today, there would be:

61 Asians, 12 Europeans, 14 Americans, 13 Africans, 1 Australian

50 women, 50 men

33 Christians, 18 Muslims, 16 Hindus, 6 Buddhists, 11 practising other religions, and 16 are non- religious

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6 people own 59% of the entire wealth of the community 17 females and 8 males live in abject poverty 70 % of the work of the village would be done by women but they would only be paid 10 % of the village’s revenue 70 are illiterate, only 1 person has a university degree Of the 23 children aged 5-14 years, 6 are working,

3 of them working full-time and receiving no education

And this miniature earth is marked by, for example:And this miniature earth is marked by, for example:

deforestation, half of the world’s forests destroyed difficult access to safe drinking water many indigenous languages threatened by extinction

Why education for sustainable Why education for sustainable development?development?

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This perspective – the miniature earth –

reveals the needs for change and for

education to face the challenges of our

century, and meet the objectives of

sustainability.

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• 1987-2002: Emergence, then definition of concept of sustainable development

• 1992: Rio Earth World Summit

UNESCO received the responsibility for implementing the Agenda 21’s Chapter 35, Science for sustainable development, and Chapter 36, Promoting education, public awareness and training.

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND (2)

• December 2002: resolution 57/254 of the General Assembly of the United Nations

- proclaims the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, 2005-2014

- designates UNESCO as the lead agency for the promotion of the Decade

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3 pillars of Sustainable 3 pillars of Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

Social perspectives

Environmental perspectives

Economic perspectives

With culture as an underlying dimension

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What is education for What is education for sustainable development? sustainable development?

A new vision of education

An education empowering people to commit themselves to sustainability

An education for democracy

An education at all levels of education systems, using all modalities, and in all social contexts

The practice of values

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Respect for:Respect for:

dignity and human rights of all peoplerights of future generations and inter-

generational responsibilitythe greater community of life (eco-

systems)cultural diversity and a commitment to

build peace

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Which vision of education for Which vision of education for sustainable development ?sustainable development ?

4 main thrusts

Promoting and improving basic education

Reorienting educational programs

Building public understanding and

awareness

Providing practical training

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What are the key education What are the key education initiatives?initiatives?

Millenium Development Goals, MDGs

Education for All, EFA

United Nations Literacy Decade, UNLD United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, DESD

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Commonalities among Commonalities among initiativesinitiatives

Four initiatives with:

A common vision: Education is an important key to development

A common wiil: to promote human rights

A common requirement : to enhance full participation of all stakeholders

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Complementarity of the Complementarity of the initiativesinitiatives

Four initiatives, four specificities:

MDGs, to reduce poverty in its many aspects EFA, to provide access to quality education

for all children and adults UNLD, to contribute to meeting the

objectives of EFA and DESD. Education for sustainable development – to

give the quality dimension in all education a particular orientation

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Quality ESD - learner levelQuality ESD - learner level

Seeks out learnersAcknowledges what learner bringsConsiders content of formal,non-formal

and informal learningAddresses educational processesProvides conducive learning

environment

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Quality ESD - system levelQuality ESD - system level

Structures management and administration to support learning

Implements good policiesEnacts appropriate legislationRestructures resources for learningMeasures learning outcomes - knowledge,

skills, values, behaviours

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““ Our biggest challenge in this new Our biggest challenge in this new

century is to take an idea that seems century is to take an idea that seems

abstract – sustainable development – abstract – sustainable development –

and turn it into a reality fo all the and turn it into a reality fo all the

world’s people. world’s people. ””

Kofi AnnanKofi AnnanSecretary-General of the United NationsSecretary-General of the United Nations

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