Education for Sustainable

Developmentin the

National Curriculum Framework

"Sustainable development is

development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs.”

World Commission on Environment and Development (1987). Our Common Future. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.43.

What is ESD?

The 1992 Rio Earth Summit (in Chapter 36, Agenda 21) identifies four major thrusts of ESD :

– Promotion and improvement of basic education

– Reorienting existing education at all levels to address sustainable development

– Developing public understanding and awareness of sustainability

– Training

ESD in the NCF

• enables learners to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values required to become active participants, individually and collectively, in decision-making processes, both at local and global levels that will improve the quality of life of present and future generations.

• the learner’s environment (within and outside the school) becomes a fundamental teaching resource that is locally relevant and culturally sensitive.

ESD in the NCF

• learning experiences are structured around the identification and resolution of environmental issues that equip and empower learners with problem solving and decision making skills that are indispensible in the context of lifelong learning.

• promotes a system based approach and an integrated knowledge base that invites learners to develop a holistic view of their surroundings, i.e. an interaction of aesthetic, environmental, economic, political, technological, cultural and societal perspectives.

The knowledge base of sustainable development

The methodology base of sustainable development

EkoSkola … a vehicle for ESD

• its the largest school ESD network in Malta

• adopts a whole school approach

• focuses on intrinsically generated school development

• is learner-centred

• is completely voluntary and democratic

• adapts itself to the need of the school

• its track record speaks for itself

Source: Grech, S.M. (2010) Evaluating the impact of the EkoSkola programme on the

Maltese Education System. Unpublished BEd (Hons) dissertation.

Effectiveness of the programme

Source: Grech, S.M. (2010) Evaluating the impact of the EkoSkola programme on the

Maltese Education System. Unpublished BEd (Hons) dissertation.

Effectiveness of the programme

Source: Grech, S.M. (2010) Evaluating the impact of the EkoSkola programme on the

Maltese Education System. Unpublished BEd (Hons) dissertation.

Effectiveness of the programme

Source: Grech, S.M. (2010) Evaluating the impact of the EkoSkola programme on the

Maltese Education System. Unpublished BEd (Hons) dissertation.

Effectiveness of the programme

Source: Grech, S.M. (2010) Evaluating the impact of the EkoSkola programme on the

Maltese Education System. Unpublished BEd (Hons) dissertation.

Effectiveness of the programme

Source: Grech, S.M. (2010) Evaluating the impact of the EkoSkola programme on the

Maltese Education System. Unpublished BEd (Hons) dissertation.

Effectiveness of the programme