EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

-It has been acknowledged that there

Is no single route to sustainable

Development.Furthermore, it is coherent that

understandings and visions for sustainability will be

different for each of us and that we will need to work

together to negotiate the process of achieving

sustainability.(UNESCO,2005)

The concept of sustainable development was popularized

in 1987 with the publication of the “Brundtland Report”-

The report of the world commission on Environment and

Development.

Social

EnvironmentEconomic

Peace, Equity, Democracy

Work, Money, Education

Conservation

Preservation

Protection

SOCIETY

an understanding of social

institutions and their role in

change and development as the

democratic and participatory

systems.

ENVIRONMENT

an awareness of the

resources and fragility of the

physical environment and

the effects on its human

activity and decisions.

ECONOMY

a sensitivy to the limits and

potential of economic growth and

their impact on society and on the

environment , with a commitment

to assess personal and societal

levels of consumptions out of

concern for the environment and

social justice.

EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

is a dynamic concept that encompasses a

new vision of education to empower people

to assume resoinsibility for creating a

sustainable future.

is fundamentally about values, with respect

at the centre, respect for others, including

those of present and future generations, for

difference and diversity, for the environment,

and for the resources we inhabit.

IMPLEMENTATION

An educated citizenry is vital to

implementing informal and sustainable

development.

Nations with high illiteracy rates and

unskilled workforces have fewer

development options.

DECISION MAKING-

Good community based decisions- which will affect

social, economic and environmental well being- also

depend on educated citizens.

Quality of life- Education is also central to

improving quality of life . Education raises the

economic status of families.

E S S E N T I A L T O E S D I S T H E D E V E L O P M E N T O F T H E F O L L O W I N G S K I L L S :

Envisioning- Being able to imagine a future.

Critical Thinking and reflection- Learning to question

our current belief system and to recognize the assumptions

underlying our knowledge, perspective and opinions.

Systematic thinking- Acknowledging complexities and

looking for links and synergies when trying to find solutins

to problems.

Building parnertships- Promoting

dialogue and negotiation, learning to work

together.

Participation in decision making –

empowering people.

UNESCO’S ROLE IN EDUCATION FOR

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT-In December 2002, the United Nations General

Assembly adopted a resolution putting in place a United

Nations Decade for Sustainable Development Spanning

form 2005 -2014. The founding values of ESD is

respect:

respect for others;

Respect in the present and future generations

Respect the planet and what it provides to us.

THE DESD BREAK S DOWN THE TRAD IT IONAL SCHEME AND PROMOTES :

Interdesciplinary and holistic learning rather

than subject based learning;

Values-based learning

Critical thinking rather than memorizing

Multi-method approaches: word, art, drama,

debates etc..

Participatory decision making; and

Locally relevant informations, rather than

national.

The DESD aims at changing the approach to

education so that it can integrate the principles, values

and practices of uistainable development. Its goals can

be broken down in to four key objectives:

Facilitating networking, and collaboration among

stakeholders of ESD;

Fostering greater quality of teaching and learning of

environment topics;

Supporting countries in achieving their millenium

development goals through ESD efforts; and

Providing contries with new opportunities and tools

reform education.

UNESCO’S ROLE INCLUDING ITS MEMBER STATES ARE

DEFINED BY THE FOUR MAJOR THRUSTS OF ESD AS

FOLLOWS:

Improving access to quality basic education

Reorienting exsitng educational porgram

Developing public understanding and

awareness; and

Proving training

THERE ARE KEY ACTION THEMES OF EDUCATION

FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Health promotion- Education and basic medical

information are powerful ways to drive behavioral

change.

Environment- Teaching society how to behave

responsibility and respect the environment lies at

the core of education for sustainable development.

GENDER EQUALITY

The broader goal of gender equality is a societal

goal to which education, along with all other social

institutions, must contribute.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Education and trainging are essential in

addressing rural poverty and ensuring sustainable

development in these parts of the world.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Education must respect diversity. ESD aims at

promoting teaching which respects indigenous

and traditional knowledge and encourages the of

indigenous language in education, the integration

of worldviews and perspectives on sustainability

into education programs at all levels.

PEACE AND HUMAN SECURITY

Education for sustainable

development plays a key role in

promoting values or peace.

REFERENCES :

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/le

ading-the-international-agenda/education-for-sustai

nable-development/