UNESCO launches Online Course on Sustainability Starts with Teachers
UNESCO today launches an online course on “Sustainability starts with Teachers” for teacher and TVET educators. The course runs from 24 August 2021 to 26 October 2021.
The ‘Sustainability Starts with Teachers’ (SST) is a regional capacity-building programme for Teacher Educators on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). It seeks to strengthen ESD in teacher education institutions for teacher educators from Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), primary, secondary, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The SST programme addresses in particular the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which is oriented towards the achievement of educational quality within a lifelong learning framework, and focuses specifically on Target 4.7, which requires all governments to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
It is active in 11 countries and the 2021 focus countries are Tanzania, Eswatini and Malawi. Through this online course, participants from the three countries will look into sustainability challenges in Southern Africa, and discuss how these can be addressed through ESD and the integration of SDGs in the school system, and into Teacher/TVET education curriculum.
The regional course will develop a shared understanding of the context for ESD in the countries, deepen theoretical and practical knowledge of ESD change processes relevant to teacher and TVET education in SADC; expand understanding of the importance of transformative learning and assessment processes to support change; and enhance networking amongst the participating countries.
UNESCO Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Prof. Hubert Gojzen will speak at the opening ceremony webinar. Other delegates will include Eswatini’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training (Mr. Stewart); Malawi’s Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Mrs. Mussa); Tanzania’s Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Dr. Akwilapo); Rhodes University Vice Chancellor (Prof. Mabizela); and Senior Programme Officer for the Swedish International Development Cooperation (Ms. Michelle Bouchard).
Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA), the SST programme started in 2019 to date, 166 teacher and TVET educators in 77 institutions are engaged in ESD transformative projects, called Change Projects. In all the participating countries, the SST programme has become an integral element of the ESD for 2030 country initiative.