The recent SEEd Newsletter asks:
Isn’t it time we attempted to bring together the hundreds of organisations and individuals with commons cause, who are doing work around ESD or global citizenship within a common narrative? Where do we all fit in the jigsaw of approaches that could comfortably sit under the banner of ESD?
Ann Finlayson expands on this. She begins ...
"I’ve recently found myself in meetings of like-minded sustainability folk where I’ve had to explain, for what seems like the millionth time, what education for sustainability (ESD) is. I’m then challenged to explain the plethora of different approaches and delivery mechanisms that exist in the UK, and the fractured and confused face to the world this conveys.
So, thinking further about all this, isn’t it time we attempted to bring together the hundreds of organisations and individuals with commons cause, who are doing work around ESD or global citizenship within a common narrative? Where do we all fit in the jigsaw of approaches that could comfortably sit under the banner of ESD?
Firstly, given that we should all now be working towards contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, we should embrace UNESCO’s definition of ESD:
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) empowers people to change the way they think and work towards a sustainable future. UNESCO aims to improve access to quality education on sustainable development at all levels and in all social contexts, to transform society by reorienting education and help people develop knowledge, skills, values and behaviours needed for sustainable development. It is about including sustainable development issues, such as climate change and biodiversity into teaching and learning. Individuals are encouraged to be responsible actors who resolve challenges, respect cultural diversity and contribute to creating a more sustainable world.”
You can see how Ann continues here.
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I'll not be rushing to do this jigsaw because there's a category error here. It's Ann's assumption that it's possible to explain ESD in clear terms. UNESCO failed that test 15 years ago. Just look at the definition, above, if you need re-convincing. Think about using it at a parents evening and imagine where you'd get.
This is why, as I noted the other day, Teach the Future (c/o UKSCN and SOS_UK) is onto a winner when they engage people by using simple language that everyone can understand eschewing jargon like Sustainable Development, Global Learning or Environmental Education. All power to them.
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