Environmental Education for Sustainability
Environmental education has evolved to encompass the broader concept of sustainability with an emphasis on transformational change in values and behaviour. Over the last decade there has been a shift from learning in and about the environment to learning for the environment. Learning for the environment goes beyond awareness raising to developing skills for engagement with positive environmental change.
Educating for a Sustainable Future
The national statement for environmental education was released 4 December 2005, coinciding with the first year of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. The statement highlights a range of approaches to quality teaching and school administration to enhance environmental education for sustainability for the whole school community.
Support for environmental education-related teacher professional learning is available under the Australian Government Quality Teacher Program, and for environmental science-related innovations in schools through the Australian School Innovation in Science Technology and Mathematics Project.
The statement complements other environmental initiatives including the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI) that all states and territories have made a commitment. At present there are more than 2000 schools participating in the AuSSI.
What is the Australian Sustainable Schools initiative (AuSSI)?
AuSSI is a coordinated, holistic, action based approach to environmental education for sustainability with measurable social, economic, environmental and educational outcomes. The initiative provides a planning and organisational structure to enhance the effectiveness of existing activities and programs.
AuSSI implements efficiencies in a school’s management of resources such as energy, waste and water, and the management of school grounds. It integrates this approach into the existing curriculum and daily running of the school. The whole school is a focal point of good practice in environmental education for sustainability with students, parents, teachers and the community interacting and learning together.
AuSSI NT is an opportunity for schools to
- reflect on what they are already doing and build on their existing culture, priorities and values to create their vision of sustainability that suits their local context, needs and interests
- include environmental action and sustainable practices in all areas of learning, decision-making and school management
- increase student engagement and improve student learning
- enhance/develop local networks to support school initiatives
The NT Curriculum Framework, particularly the EsseNTial Learnings, Studies of Society and Environment and Science provides a strong mandate for an integrated, hands-on approach to environmental education for sustainability.