Education for Sustainable Development

 

Education for sustainable development is “enabling human beings to acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes and values, necessary to shape a sustainable development future” (UNESCO, 2014).

United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is the lead United Nations agency on education for sustainable development. It also has an education for sustainable development framework for 2030 to mobilise education to address the sustainable development goals. This framework is to provide anyone with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to generate transformative change for sustainable development (SDG Action, 2023).

Most scholars and social change activists have advocated for education for sustainable development to be incorporated into curricular themes in higher educations which will be used and adapted as entry points to develop sustainable education further (Tilbury, 2004).

Education for sustainable development is important for the attainment of sustainable development in societies and communities at large. It is therefore necessary to incorporate education for sustainable development at all levels of formal education and training and in non-formal and informal learning (Council of the European Union, 2010).

Education for sustainable development incorporates key sustainable development issues that are environmental, social and economic into teaching and learning. These will make use of   activities such as participatory learning and the use of learning methods that will empower learners to take action for sustainable development.

Education for sustainable development will promote competencies such as critical thinking and reflection, focusing on the future, and making collaborative decisions which are necessary for positive social change.

Moreover, it will also equip learners with information needed to maintain and improve their quality of life and the quality of life for future generations by empowering them to make informed decisions and take individual or collective action to change society.

Furthermore, it will also help learners to shift towards active, and experiential learning that will engage the learner to make an impact in the world.

Again, education for sustainable development will help learners to lay emphasis or dwell on the local context and community that require context specific solutions.

Although, there are challenges with using education for sustainable development as a guide in higher institutions. Incorporating education for sustainable development in an overstretched curriculum could affect the quality of teaching because of the increase in teaching loads. However, the concept of education for sustainable development needs a fuller understanding for educators to understand the full implementation of education for sustainable development related subjects. (UNESCO, 2014).

Good quality education is an important tool for achieving a sustainable world and using education for sustainable development as a guide for teaching and learning will help achieve the goals of sustainable development.

References

Council of the European Union. (2010). Notices from European Union Institutions, Bodies, Offices and Agencies. Official Journal of the European Union. C327/11

SDG Action. (2022). Education is the Enabler for Sustainable Development.www.sdg-action.org

Tilbury, D. (2004). Environmental Education for Sustainability: A Force for Change in Higher Education. In P.B. Corocan, & A.E.J.Wals (Eds).

UNESCO. (2014). Sub-Education Policy Review Report: Education for Sustainable Development. www.unesco.org