Education for Sustainable Development
Education for Sustainable Development
It has become clear to all of us that the planet Earth is experiencing continuous tribulations that threaten all forms of life and various biological systems, the most prominent of which is climate change, which has become the main topic of conversation in international forums, in an attempt by humanity to find effective solutions to deal with this imminent danger, which threatens the sustainability of living on Earth. Perhaps the most prominent of these solutions is “sustainable education” or “education for sustainable development.” Therefore, in its special file for this issue, Earth Guards discusses with you the issue of education and its role in achieving the goals of sustainable development.
It is no secret to any reasonable person the importance of education for the progress and elevation of nations, as it is the first and most important way to lead any country to a position of regional and international leadership, and for us in GermanyJapan is a good example! After the humiliating defeat of both countries in World War II, and the comprehensive destruction that befell them – and Germany was even divided into two countries – each of them was able in recent decades to move to new horizons of growth and development at all levels, and all of this is attributed to the interest in education and technical education alike.
Perhaps what was mentioned above was reflected – in one way or another – on all the world’s population in the form of absolute confidence in products manufactured in Germany or Japan, from cars and heavy equipment, to electronics and petrochemicals. Both economies became permanent members of the list of the 10 most powerful economies in the world, despite the limited natural resources in both countries.
But in the midst of this global race for advancement and progress, we realized too late that the consequences were dire. Individual human activitiesCollectivism has had severe negative impacts on the environment and the forms of life dependent on it. Humanity finds itself required to find solutions to address these impacts, not only for the sake of the environment, but also in order to preserve its survival.
Hence, the concept of “Sustainable Development” emerged, which is the concept around which sustainable development policies and strategies for all countries revolve, given the ways it proposes to ensure the achievement of development for current generations, and to ensure the sustainability of our planet in a way that allows future generations to obtain equal opportunities for growth and prosperity.
The importance of education is due to its decisive influence in shaping the values and concepts of young people, and contributing to the development of skills and providing the appropriate tools for current generations. So that you can live appropriately, and education can be used to instill the principles of sustainable developmentSmallness, thus shaping the future and present of nations.
There are many roles that education can play in the field of sustainability, as educating women and girls can contribute – effectively – to reducing population growth, which in turn is one of the basic challenges towards achieving the goals of sustainable development. But the relationship between education and sustainable development has deeper effects than all of the above, which we will review with you in the following lines.
What is the importance of education?
Life is no longer as simple as it is today, and the individual is required to learn many skills in order to be qualified to earn a living. Suffice it to say: children in developing countries acquiring basic reading and writing skills before leaving school can lead – according to UNESCO – to reshaping many societies for the better. In addition to this, you expectUNESCO – If all adults complete secondary education – 420 million people will be lifted out of poverty. But the benefit of education is not limited to ensuring living above the poverty line only, as it is related to the quality and type of life, and providing more job options, among other benefits.
The above seems logical and intuitive, as education develops many very important aspects in young people, in addition to achieving many goals at the individual and collective levels. We summarize in the following points the importance of education.
First– Developing problem-solving skills: Education shapes a person’s mentality and how to make his own decisions, and this is through developing critical and logical thinking skills, to prepare children for adulthood and then assuming responsibility; Therefore, good education enables individuals to make decisions in an informed mannerBetter, and contributes to facing various societal challenges, or planning how to optimally support the family.
Second– Self-reliance and empowerment: Knowing how to read, write, and do simple arithmetic operations is basically empowering. When a person can read – for example – he will be able to access the information he needs, and knowing how to read and write makes him more self-reliant and gives him confidence, so what about someone who has a good education?!
Third– Promoting equality among individuals: The exemplary educational process has a major role in promoting equality among individuals. When receiving knowledge, there is no room for discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, social class, or level of thinking. Through education one can gain enough maturityAwareness to accept others and respect opinions that differ from their own; Therefore, it is not surprising to find that many experts – locally and internationally – agree that education contributes – significantly – to achieving societal peace.
Fourth– Individual financial stability and security: An individual’s income is often closely linked to his level of education and the quality of the education he received. So all over the world we find that there are more job opportunities for those who have completed high school, earned a degree or diploma, or are pursuing postgraduate studies. Which could also mean higher salaries and a more stable standard of living.
Fifth– National economic growth: Certainly, the level of education in the population of any country is reflected in its economy. According to studies, the countries with the highest rates of knowledgeLiteracy is more likely to advance human and economic development, as national economic growth begins with individual economic growth, which is often linked to education. In Canada, for example, we find that 70% of jobs require university-level reading and writing skills.
Sixth– Community service: Educating generations well is essential to providing them with the necessary skills and tools to make a difference in their communities. Today’s children are the teachers, doctors, and scientists of the future, and they are tomorrow’s cadres for the government and private sectors, whether service or industrial. Which means that the quality of the future of any nation will depend – without a doubt – on the quality of education for its children.
When looking at the previous six points, we find that they in themselves represent the core of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Education alone is responsible for achieving a number of these goals,Chief among them are the first goal (eradicating poverty), the second (eliminating hunger), the third (good health and well-being), the fourth (quality education), and the fifth (gender equality).
Sustainable Development Goal 4
It is not surprising to find a goal dedicated to education in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as education is a tool and means of developing any society in a sustainable manner. Therefore, we can summarize the essence of the fourth goal in ensuring that learning opportunities are permanently available, whether childhood or adult education, as well as ensuring equality and inclusion in education for all groups, in addition to ensuring that education – effectively – leads to the acquisition of appropriate skills, and finally ensuring that education meets the professional and technical requirements of the labor market.
On the other hand, for the fourth goal ofThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – quality education – have three basic principles, which are:
First– Education is a human right: To guarantee this right, governments must guarantee quality education opportunities in a fair and comprehensive manner for all, free and compulsory, without social or economic discrimination; Why central education plays a role in developing human mentality and thought, and promoting the meanings of tolerance and peace. By education, we do not mean here the acquisition of basic literacy and numeracy skills, but rather education that works to develop creative thought, acquire cooperative skills, and instill moral virtues.
Second– Education is a public good: By this we mean that education must represent a common societal goal, for which the state is responsible; To formulate and implement its public policies, while society participates with its elements in this process; To guaranteeAchieving the best results.
Third– Social equality: By equality we do not only mean ensuring good education for various groups, but rather we mean the broader meaning of social equality, which includes enabling all groups to obtain a better life through good education, and not just providing it.
Some of you may be wondering now: How can we achieve the fourth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? But before discussing how to achieve the fourth goal, we must first discuss the seven goals of this goal, set by UNESCO, and then we will discuss the means of implementation.
The first goal:is to provide free, quality and equitable primary and secondary education for all boys and girls, with the aim of achieving effective results by 2030.The second goal:is to develop children inPre-primary education stage, by providing good care for children, so that they become ready for primary education. As forThe third goal:is to ensure equal opportunities for men and women to obtain quality and affordable technical and higher education.
The fourth goal:is to provide the appropriate skills required in the labor market, and this will help everyone obtain decent job opportunities, such as problem-solving skills, critical and creative thinking, individual and group work, and communication and negotiation skills.Fifth goal: Eliminate social disparities in access to education; To achieve societal inclusion, which guarantees the right to quality education for marginalized and vulnerable groups, without regard to religion, race, health status, or wealth.
The sixth goal: is to eradicate illiteracy throughout the world, ensuring that all of humanity obtains the basic skills of reading, writing, and numeracy, and enabling individuals to rely on themselves independently.The seventh goalAnd the last one: It is education for sustainable development, and this is by providing the required knowledge and skills, which promote the achievement of sustainable development, and increase awareness of sustainable behaviors at the individual and societal levels.
In order for us to be able to reach these seven goals on our way to achieving the fourth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we need appropriate means of implementation, which is what UNESCO also indicated, and we summarize them in three basic implementation means:
First– Providing learning environmentsEffectively, by this we mean designing educational buildings in a way that takes into account gender differences, physical disabilities, age groups, and religious backgrounds, in addition to raising the efficiency of current educational buildings, so that they provide a fertile environment for learning effectively. We do not doubt that the strong and appropriate infrastructure for the education sector will certainly be reflected in its outcomes.
Second– Increasing scholarships, which is a means whose implementation is largely the responsibility of developed countries, as these countries are required to provide an increasing number of scholarships to students in developing countries, especially the poorest students. For the purpose of transferring science and knowledge, and compensating for the deficiency in the educational systems of poor countries.
Third– Improving teachers, as the teacher is a cornerstone in the educational system.With it, you rise and become upright, and without it, you disappear and collapse. Therefore, governments must seek to qualify and train teachers appropriately, and provide the appropriate numbers of them to various educational institutions, while ensuring that they are provided with a stable and decent life.
Education and climate change
Education is a crucial factor in addressing the issue of climate change, which is why the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) places responsibility on the parties to the agreement; To carry out educational campaigns and public awareness about climate change, taking into account the integration of community elements into these campaigns, and providing access to information about this existential issue.
Education can encourage people to change their attitudes and behaviors, and it also helps them make responsible decisions that promote sustainability. In the classroom -onFor example – the effect of global warming can be explained in a simple way, in addition to learning behaviors that enable us to confront this phenomenon.
The matter is not limited to educating children and adults in schools and universities, but also extends to educating parents and educating them about this issue, because of the role they have in raising and nurturing the rising generations. If we can provide an environment of awareness of sustainability issues at school and at home, we will ensure that the conscience and behavior of humanity’s future is shaped in a way that takes into account its development and sustainability.
Therefore, we can say: Education and climate change are two important areas that are greatly intertwined in building a better future for humanity. Education is no longer only a means of transferring knowledge and skills, but has become an essential tool for spreading awareness of climate change issues and promoting sustainable behaviors, by integrating the concepts of climate change.climate change in school curricula and encouraging research and innovation in this field. Education can play a vital role in motivating students and youth to take responsible and positive actions to reduce the impacts of climate change.
There is no doubt that climate change represents a global challenge that requires joint efforts from governments and companies, as well as from communities and individuals. Therefore, educational curricula must be provided about the effects of climate change and how to adapt to and reduce them for all age groups.
By integrating education into efforts to combat climate change, awareness, solidarity and motivation to act to protect our planet and ensure its sustainability for future generations can be strengthened. Perhaps the Earth Guards magazine made an effective contribution to this issue, through the “What Does It Mean?” series of episodes, which simplified the most important terms related to development.Sustainable content in the form of short clips, with attractive visual production.
It should be noted here that when we talk about education, we mean education of both academic and technical (vocational) types, as our Arab societies are characterized – unfortunately – by ignoring the importance of technical education, and societies view those with technical education in an unfair manner; This reflected – negatively – on the quality of this important type of education.
The importance of technical education
Technical education represents an important part of the education system, as it aims to qualify students and provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to quickly enter the labor market efficiently and confidently. Technical education is characterized by a great focus on practical application and developing the artistic and technical skills that an individual needs in a specific field. This is in contrast to academic study, which is concerned withBy studying theories and concepts.
Technical education – in addition – contributes to enhancing young people’s access to appropriate job opportunities, which helps improve the standard of living, reduce unemployment rates, in addition to meeting the changing needs of the labor market. Good technical education allows institutions and companies to obtain skilled and appropriately trained workers in many fields, which helps them improve productivity and enhance competitiveness.
It should be noted that technical education can constitute an important path for students who prefer practical and applied learning over theory. Therefore, attention to technical education is crucial in any society. The sick thought centered on the inevitability of the individual receiving a university education must end, and our view of technical education as a lower level of education must change.
MaybeWe have a good example in a country like Germany! This European country, which is famous for the quality of its industry, realized the importance of technical education and took great care of it, and its impact – in the long term – was evident in the optimal exploitation of the capabilities of the German people, by directing students to either of the two paths of education – academic and technical – according to their abilities and skills.
Vocational education – in general – is considered an essential part of the education system that contributes to improving economic opportunities for individuals and meeting the needs of the labor market. Technical education also plays a vital role in achieving sustainable development, by contributing to building more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable societies.
Through technical education, environmental awareness can be enhanced, and this is by integrating the concepts of sustainable development and environmental preservation into the curricula, so that students can integrate friendly practicesFor the environment and the use of green technology in their technical fields.
Technical education can provide livelihood opportunities for all segments of society, including youth, women and minorities; This means building comprehensive and equal societies, in which the individual can find a source of decent living. Therefore, we must pay attention to teaching different crafts, both simple and complex, in an attempt to eliminate unemployment and its consequences, such as poverty and crime rates.
In the same context, technical education can enhance reliance on clean technology and innovation, by training students to use modern technology and adapt environmental innovations in their work. Which enhances the sustainability of various industrial and service sectors. All of the above will lead – in one way or another – to supporting sustainable economic growth, because skilled labor plays a pivotal role in meeting the needs of the labor market.And enhance its productivity and sustainability.
The bottom line is that technical education has a vital role – which we must not overlook – in promoting sustainable development by developing the skills and knowledge necessary to build integrated societies. By integrating sustainability concepts into technical education programs, economic, social and environmental benefits can be achieved for individuals and communities in the long term.
Challenges of education for sustainable development
The issue of sustainable education – of course – faces a number of challenges that can hinder the achievement of the desired goals of the educational process, and this is something that we should consider and stop at, because without knowing the challenges, we will not be able to develop solutions. Hence, we can summarize the challenges facing education for sustainable development in seven points that we will discussWith you as follows:
First– Lack of a correct understanding of sustainable development. Many people – including teachers – still lack a clear understanding of the meaning of sustainability and why it is important, which can make it difficult to integrate the concept of “education for sustainable development” into current education systems. To meet this challenge, teachers and decision-makers need to have a clear understanding of sustainability concepts and the importance of achieving them.
Second– Lack of necessary resources, which is clearly evident in the lack of support allocated to the sustainable education file, whether financial or political support. To meet this challenge, teachers and the rest of the education system must advocate for increased funding and support for education for sustainable development, in addition to developing partnerships with organizations and companies that can provide resources.And the necessary support.
Third– Integrating sustainability into educational curricula, which is a challenge that can make it difficult for teachers to apply the concepts of education for sustainable development effectively, and may also hinder students from understanding the importance of the topic. To face this challenge, it is important to integrate sustainable development concepts into curricula at all educational levels, by developing these curricula, or even replacing them.
Fourth– Weak efficiency of teachers, which results from the lack of necessary training and educational programs related to sustainable development, which leads to difficulty among teachers in teaching the principles of sustainable development in a clear and easy way to students; Due to the lack of skills and knowledge necessary to do so. To meet this challenge, it is important to have training programs for teachers that include:Introducing the concept of sustainability, how it can be integrated into teaching strategies, and what resources are needed to achieve it.
Fifth– Lack of student participation, and here we mean that students deal with any course related to sustainable development as an exam subject only, without an internal motivation and desire to comprehend the goals of sustainable development, and work to achieve them. To meet this challenge, it is important to develop educational materials and activities that are attractive and interactive. To gain students’ interest, inspire them to take action and adopt sustainable behaviours.
Sixth– The absence of evaluation and evaluation. The presence of qualified teachers, appropriate curricula, and prepared educational buildings, all of which may not be sufficient to achieve the desired goals; Therefore, we must evaluate educational programs and initiatives continuously and carefully, so that we can determineHow effective are these programs and initiatives, and how can we improve and develop them?
Seventh– Weak cooperation and partnerships between companies, teachers, decision-makers and various organizations, which may lead to obstacles in effectively implementing “Education for Sustainable Development,” and the absence of the resources and support necessary for the success of the educational process. To meet this challenge, it is important to develop partnerships and collaborations between teachers, decision-makers, organizations and companies that can provide the necessary resources and support for education for sustainable development.
Sustainability of the educational process itself
Perhaps we have elaborated – in the paragraphs of this issue’s special file – on the impact of education in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and how good education affects the progress and growth of nations. ButWhat we must not overlook is the sustainability of the educational process itself, from infrastructure, curricula, teaching staff, etc.
We can summarize the concept of sustainability of the education process in that it means the ability to provide an effective and sustainable educational environment for current and future generations, which includes many aspects, including environmental, social and economic sustainability.
First– Environmental sustainability, and this is through the use of educational techniques and educational materials that reflect awareness of the environment and encourage its protection, as well as the shift to digital learning, which relies on distance learning methods; Which means reducing the educational process’s consumption of resources, such as energy and paper. Another aspect of the environmental sustainability of the education process is encouraging the use of renewable energy and building technologiesEnvironmentally friendly design and construction of schools and universities.
Second– Social sustainability, and the first principles of social sustainability in education are diversity and inclusion, and this is done by creating an educational environment that welcomes everyone without regard to gender, race, religion, or social background. The second principle is community participation, and this is by working with local communities in a deeper way. To determine education needs according to the nature of each region, and ensure the provision of education with the desired quality. Finally, we must promote social justice in education, by which we mean ensuring equal opportunities for quality education among all students, regardless of their financial level.
Third– Economic sustainability, which is through investment in education; To improve its infrastructure, develop curricula,And training teachers in a way that suits the reality we live in today. Another is to invest in types of learning, which enhance critical and creative thinking, problem-solving and communication skills. These are basic skills that are reflected in future cadres. Which necessarily means contributing to economic prosperity. In addition to this, we must develop the knowledge economy by encouraging research and innovation, and transferring knowledge through partnerships between universities, governments, and the private sector.
To achieve sustainability in the education process, it requires cooperation and joint efforts from governments, educational institutions, local communities and companies. By investing in these three aspects – environmental, social and economic – we can build a sustainable education system that contributes to achieving sustainable development in the long term.
In this context, we cannot fail to emphasizeThe importance and centrality of the teacher’s role in the educational process. He is not just an employee who provides knowledge, but he is also an educator who is supposed to be an inspiring model, role model, and guide for his students. The teacher bears a great responsibility and major roles in advancing the sustainability of the educational process and ensuring that it contributes – positively – to achieving the goals of sustainable development.
The teacher is responsible for guiding students and motivating them to acquire various skills. He also transfers knowledge and life experiences to his students. He also has a major role in shaping behavior and personality, by guiding students to ideal values and good morals, in addition to providing support and personal guidance to students. To overcome the difficulties they face in their lives in general, and all of the above greatly affects the mental and social development of new generations.
It is discussedWith you in the following lines – in more depth – Dr. Muhammad Ziyada, the role of the educational teacher in creating future cadres, who can achieve our current and future aspirations.
Sustainability of sustainable education
There is often talk about how to achieve sustainable education by urging the school curricula to include many topics related to sustainable development, and to raise awareness of its various issues, especially the rights of future generations to a good life. However, it is more important to work to ensure the right of these generations to a good educational process, and not only by raising awareness of their right to a good life and good education in the current educational process; Therefore, what is more important and urgent is working to ensure the sustainability of education, not working to achieve sustainable education.Only.
Education is the basis of sustainable education
The words education and teaching have always been associated, but the former would never come after its counterpart. Education is the foundation on which all knowledge is built, and the good soil in which the ethics of science, work, and sustainable behavior to which the peoples of the world aspire are instilled. There is no point in education that lacks sound souls and strong resolves that love work, appreciate knowledge, and influence others. In order to achieve true sustainable development; Improving the educational process alone – even if it appears sustainable – is a false process.
Therefore, I can be certain that education is the cornerstone, and the indispensable asset for achieving both development and sustainability, even though talk about sustainable education is usually limited to how to make educational processes relevantWith issues of sustainability, it is necessary to work on the sustainability of the educational process itself, which means that our efforts should be focused on how to ensure the sustainability of the educational process now by developing it, and in the future by ensuring that it maintains progress at the same pace and the same approach. In order to provide quality education for future generations.
Therefore, the approach to improving the educational process guarantees us a sustainable path, instilling in the hearts, character and behavior of students from a young age ideas and cultures related to good ethics first, science second, and then sustainable behavior third. In all of this, we will ensure self-learning generations for everything that is good and praiseworthy, scientific and valid, developmental and sustainable, no matter how different the levels and fields of education, its mechanisms and allocations, and no matter how different the educational systems, curricula and capabilities are, and other matters for which development plans are useless as long as they lack progress.In the educational system itself.
The teacher is the basis of educational sustainability
No one denies that technology has a role in reformulating the concepts of education and enhancing its capabilities in line with global leaps at the economic and social levels. But we also realize that the origin of all of this is man. The focus of all development processes in all sectors, especially education.
The human cadre is the main pillar upon which nations rely in building their present and securing the future of their generations. To be more precise, what is meant here by human cadre is that individual who has received an appropriate level of education, and in whom education has built a real desire to be influential in improving his work, adding value in raising the status of his society, and preserving the rights of future generations.
If education is the heart and essence of education, then there is no doubt that the teacher is the lung that supplies this heart with life. If they are reconciled, the body of the entire educational process is reconciled; Therefore, if the goal is to achieve the sustainability of the educational process to the fullest extent, we must work to build generations of educators – teachers – to be leaders and role models for our grandchildren in the future.
Earth Guards
In the end, I say: The sustainability of sustainable education will only be achieved by paying attention to the educational system, and by working to create generations of teachers with high morals, sustainable behavior, and useful knowledge. In doing so, they may become role models for future generations, raising future generations on the same foundations, principles, morals, and behaviors. Let’s ensure thatIt is all a sustainable educational development process, and to achieve the sustainability of sustainable education. Then we will truly be the Earth Guards.
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