The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, T.D., has published the “National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development, 2014-2020”, Ireland’s first such strategy.
Education for sustainable development fosters and strengthens the capacity of individuals to make judgements and choices in favour of sustainable development.
The Strategy aims to ensure that learners are equipped with the relevant knowledge, and the key dispositions, skills and values to motivate and empower them to become informed citizens acting for a more sustainable future.
Eight ‘priority action areas’ have been identified. They include leadership and coordination, data collection and baseline measurement, and promoting participation by young people in decisions that affect them.
Each of the eight priority areas has a series of recommendations. These recommendations encompass all areas of the education system, from pre-school through to further and higher education, as well as non-formal and community education, and the Youth sector.
The ESD plan promotes greater participation by children and young people in decisions that affect them within the education sector, principally through student councils. This is in keeping with the Minister’s drive to ensure the voice of students is included in education. The establishment of more student councils at primary level will be encouraged, and the existing student council model at post primary level will be reviewed.
Welcoming the Strategy, Minister Quinn highlighted the importance of the Department of Education and Skills promoting sustainability in its own practice, “As an architect, I am delighted that the Department has won awards for sustainable design in our school building projects.
“This National ESD Strategy commits the Department to continue to build infrastructure that is cutting edge in terms of sustainability, as well as seeking to reduce its own energy usage and that of other institutions within the education sector.”
“I would like to extend my appreciation to those who generously contributed their time and expertise. In implementing the ESD Strategy, the Department will be seeking to work closely with you in this important area.”
An ESD Advisory Group is to be established, representing stakeholders, and chaired by a DES official, for exchanging best practice, building partnerships and mobilising stakeholders.
The publication of the National Strategy for ESD fulfils Ireland’s commitments under the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. It is also one of the commitments in Our Sustainable Future, the National Strategy on Sustainable Development, which was published by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in 2012.
Eight priority action areas:
1. Leadership and coordination
2. Data collection and baseline measurement
3. Curriculum at pre-school, primary and post-primary
4. Professional development
5. Further education and training
6. Higher education and research
7. Promoting participation by young people
8. Sustainability in action
The report is available at http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Education-Reports/National-Strategy-on-Education-for-Sustainable-Development-in-Ireland-2014-2020.pdf
Tá “An Straitéis Náisiúnta Éireannach don Oideachas don Fhorbairt Inbhuanaithe, 2014-2020”, an chéad straitéis dá leithéid ag Éirinn, foilsithe ag an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna, Ruairí Quinn, T.D.
Leis an oideachas don fhorbairt inbhuanaithe cothaítear agus neartaítear cumas daoine aonair chun breithiúnais agus roghanna a dhéanamh i bhfabhar na forbartha inbhuanaithe.
Tá sé mar aidhm ag an Straitéis a chinntiú go bhfuil an t-eolas cuí ag foghlaimeoirí, agus
na príomhscileanna agus luachanna acu, mar aon leis an meon, a spreagfaidh agus a chumasóidh iad chun bheith ina saoránaigh eolasacha ag gníomhú ar mhaithe le todhchaí níos inbhuanaithe.
Tá ocht ‘réimse tosaíochta aicsin’ sainaitheanta. Orthu siúd tá ceannaireacht agus comhordú, bailiú sonraí agus tomhas bunlíne, agus rannpháirtíocht a chur chun cinn i measc daoine óga i gcinnteoireacht a théann i gcion orthu.
Tá sraith moltaí ag gach aon cheann de na hocht réimse tosaíochta. Cuimsíonn na moltaí seo gach réimse den chóras oideachais, ón réamhscoil go dtí an bhreisoideachas agus an t-ardoideachas, mar aon le hoideachas neamhfhoirmeálta agus oideachas pobail, agus earnáil na hÓige.
Cuireann an plean OFI rannpháirtíocht bhreisithe chun cinn i measc páistí agus daoine óga sa chinnteoireacht a théann i gcion orthu san earnáil oideachais, rud a dhéanfar go príomha trí chomhairlí mac léinn. Tá sé seo i gcomhréir le feachtas an Aire chun a chinntiú go gcuirfear guth na mac léinn san áireamh san oideachas. Spreagfar scoileanna chun tuilleadh comhairlí mac léinn a bhunú ag an mbunleibhéal, agus déanfar athbhreithniú ar an tsamhail chomhairle mac léinn atá ann faoi láthair ag an iar-bhunleibhéal.
Ag cur fáilte roimh an Straitéis dó, d’aibhsigh an tAire Quinn an tábhacht a bhain leis an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna bheith ag cur na hinbhuanaitheachta chun cinn ina cleachtas féin, “Mar ailtire, tá áthas orm go bhfuil gradaim buaite ag an Roinn don dearadh inbhuanaithe in ár gcuid tionscadal tógála scoileanna.
“Leis an Straitéis seo OFI, tá an Roinn tiomanta d’infreastruchtúr a thógáil i gcónaí atá ceannródaíoch maidir lena inbhuanaitheacht, chomh maith le bheith ag iarraidh úsáid an fhuinnimh aici féin agus ag institiúidí eile san earnáil oideachais a laghdú.”
“Is mian liom a rá gur mór agam an cion fial ama agus saineolais a tugadh don obair seo. Agus sinn ag cur na Straitéise OFI i bhfeidhm beidh an Roinn ag iarraidh bheith ag obair go dlúth libhse a rinne an obair sin sa réimse tábhachtach seo.”
Táthar chun Grúpa Comhairleach OFI a bhunú, a bheidh ionadaíoch do pháirtithe leasmhara, agus a mbeidh oifigeach de chuid na ROS ina chathaoirleach air, chun an dea-chleachtas a mhalartú, chun comhpháirtíochtaí a thógáil agus chun páirtithe leasmhara a shlógadh.
Le foilsiú na Straitéise Náisiúnta don OFI, comhlíontar tiomantais na hÉireann faoi Dheich mBliana an Oideachais don Fhorbairt Inbhuanaithe ag na Náisiúin Aontaithe. Ceann de na tiomantais é chomh maith in Our Sustainable Future, an Straitéis Náisiúnta don Fhorbairt Inbhuanaithe, a d’fhoilsigh an Roinn Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil in 2012.
Na hocht réimse tosaíochta aicsin:
1. Ceannaireacht agus comhordú
2. Bailiú sonraí agus tomhas bunlíne
3. Curaclam sa réamhscoil, bunscoil agus iar-bhunscoil
4. Forbairt phroifisiúnta
5. Breisoideachas agus breisoiliúint
6. Ardoideachas agus taighde
7. Rannpháirtíocht i measc daoine óga a chur chun cinn
8. Inbhuanaitheacht á cur i ngníomh
Tá an Tuarascáil le fail ag : http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Education-Reports/National-Strategy-on-Education-for-Sustainable-Development-in-Ireland-2014-2020.pdf