Summary
About 50% of the countries consider climate change as a part of their national-level laws and education plans
The Global Education Monitoring (GEM) has reported that 90% of the countries have references of climate change in primary and secondary levels
The Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report by UNESCO has presented the Profiles Enhancing Education Reviews (PEER) at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
According to the Global Education Monitoring (GEM), most of the countries do not have sufficient inclusion of the topic of climate change in their education system. The education laws, policies and teaching methods do not consider the subject significant in various countries.
The report states, 75% of the countries cover climate change in their curriculum but only 40% have education laws considering climate change. About 45% of the countries have the topic in their education sector and plans.
About 90% of the countries have references to climate change in their primary and secondary levels. The report mentions that very few countries have climate change in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training system (TVET), teacher training education and higher education.
However, according to the report, some countries stand out in this area. For instance, Italy has vastly included climate change in their education system and students show ecologically sustainable attitudes. Climate Change education has become mandatory from 2020 as a part of civics education.
Indonesia too has changed its National Curriculum Framework in 2013 by updating it with the climate being core competence part of attitudes, knowledge and skills students must achieve. The Education Ministry of Indonesia organises events on Climate Change like the Climate Change Education Forum and Expo. These events focus on educational topics on climate change and create networking among schools and educators.
The report also mentions Colombia stating, “It adopted a National Climate Change Policy in 2017, which sets out five strategies addressing information dissemination on science and technology, education, training and public awareness and climate change management planning and financing. The policy includes objectives to mainstream climate change into the formal education system.”
Edugraph spoke to Mantoo Rakhit, Principal of Calcutta Boys’ School, Beliaghata, regarding the inclusion of climate change in the Indian education curriculum. He said, “Climate change is an important topic to teach in schools, colleges and other higher education institutions at this point. The schools in West Bengal, in fact in India are very active regarding this. I think higher education needs to have the inclusion of the subject more. Also, the parents play a big role here. At home, children must make certain things into a habit.”
Last updated on 08 Nov 2021
