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Sustainability Education
Goal 1.7 of The Adelaide Declaration on National Goals for Schooling in the Twenty-First Century (Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs, 1999), states: "Schooling should develop fully the talents and capacities of all students. In particular, when students leave school they should have an understanding of, and concern for, stewardship of the natural environment and the knowledge and skills to contribute to ecologically sustainable development."
The School Education Working Group (SEWG) of the National Environmental Education Council (NEEC) has been exploring ways to work with the formal education system, through appropriate bodies, to determine how environmental education may be given a higher priority in the curriculum frameworks of States and Territories.
In 2001 the Council commissioned a review of State and Territory curriculum documents to determine where matters relevant to environmental education are represented and to identify national priorities. The review was undertaken by the Curriculum Corporation, in conjunction with a national reference group and in consultation with the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training.
The review found wide variation across and even within States and Territories in the references to environmental education within curriculum documents. Important topics such as biodiversity, sustainability, greenhouse and endangered species were under-represented or missing from curriculum materials. The report recommended the development of a national environmental education policy for schools as a starting point to achieving sustainability goals in Australia. It also recommended the implementation of a national environmental education program in schools. These recommendations were supported by the Council.
Read the full report: Environmental Education Review - Formal Education Sector (Schools).
To address the need for greater coordination and a more holistic approach to environmental education the School Education Working Group proposed the development of a national environmental education policy for schools. It also recommended the development of a national program to support the policy. The Working Group is closely following the development of the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative and its potential to fulfill this role.
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts has progressed these recommendations to the extent that on 28 May 2004 the Directors-General of all State and Territory education systems endorsed a proposal to develop a National Environmental Education Statement for Schools based on the model of the successful "Studies of Asia: A Statement for Australian Schools".
Both the Minister for the Environment and Heritage and the Minister for Education Science and Training have endorsed the development of the statement.
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts has commissioned the Curriculum Corporation to develop the National Environmental Education Statement in consultation with key stakeholders. The purpose of the NEES is to:
The Curriculum Corporation web site contains updates on the development of the statement which is due for completion in mid 2005.
To contact the Working Group or for further information, please contact:
School Education Working Group
Secretariat
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6274 2872
Fax: 02 6274 2510