2023-07-11 09:22:49
In partnership with “Education”, “Emirates Foundation” and “Education and Knowledge”
Abu Dhabi «Gulf»
Within the framework of the “Year of Sustainability” initiatives in the UAE, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Emirates Education Foundation, and the Department of Education and Knowledge – Abu Dhabi, announced the commitment of all schools in the emirate to reduce their environmental footprint by joining the authority’s initiative for internationally recognized sustainable schools. In a pioneering step aimed at promoting a culture of sustainability and environmentally friendly practices in UAE schools, and helping future generations to develop ideas that contribute to achieving a bright and sustainable future.
The Department of Education announced this achievement during its hosting of the “Open Day for Principals of Private Schools and Schools of Educational Partnerships” event organized by the Authority with the aim of raising awareness among private school principals about the private schools initiative, and encouraging them to direct their students to adopt environmentally friendly activities and behavior patterns in their daily lives. And inspiring young people to be leaders of change, and enabling them to assume social responsibility in the future, which falls within the framework of the Authority and its partners’ efforts to enhance the concept of environmental sustainability in educational curricula, and support the UAE’s efforts in applying international best practices to preserve the environment and natural resources, and achieve their sustainability for future generations.
The organization of the event comes within the framework of the continuous efforts made by the Authority, the “Education Department” and the “Department of Education” to align the educational ecosystem with national priorities and environmental issues, with the country preparing to host the Conference of the Parties “COP 28”, where young people will have a major role as leaders. The future is in creating awareness and providing solutions to combat climate change.
For the first time, the conference will include a special pavilion for education that will provide a platform to showcase the distinguished green education practices in the world, and the UAE’s leadership role in this field.
This year, the Ministry of Education announced the Green Education Partnership roadmap, in preparation for the country’s hosting of “COP 28” to enhance the role of education in achieving the sustainable development goals, and to include the climate plan in the educational system in the country with its commitment to achieving the goals of the Green Education Partnership, which focuses on four axes: Green education, green schools, green capacity building, and green societies.
Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of the Department of Information, Science and Environmental Awareness Management at the Authority, said: “We believe that future generations will have a major role in changing the world towards achieving a more sustainable future. Therefore, we believe that we need to address them in their early stages of education in schools to impart knowledge to them so that they can contribute to the efforts exerted to protect the environment, confront climate change, and protect the world’s natural resources. We at the Authority have been applying this approach for years through the Sustainable Schools Initiative that we launched in 2009, and we have set another goal of including 700 schools from all over the country in the Sustainable Schools Initiative by the end of this year.”
During the event, Baharoon gave a detailed presentation on the sustainable schools initiative implemented by the authority, which in 2015 was recognized by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as an innovative model for education in the field of sustainable development, as the program recommended that the initiative be implemented worldwide.
Baharon highlighted the Twelfth International Conference on Environmental Education, which the Authority will host in January 2024, and called on schools to participate in the conference and provide their expertise to play a vital role in the success of this global event.
Dr. Amna Al-Dahhak Al-Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Welfare and Capacity Building Sector at the Ministry of Education, said: “Integrating climate education into educational curricula, as a basic pillar of education, is an essential element of a deep vision centered on developing comprehensive knowledge for students, to enable them to develop social programs.” And environmental that serves their communities and their lives, and we at the Ministry of Education continue to work to deepen the role of education in addressing the climate crisis to keep pace with the progress of the UAE in this field. ».
She explained to school principals the road map of the “Green Education Partnership” that was announced in preparation for the country’s hosting of the “COP 28” conference, which commits that 50% of schools and universities in the country will be green with the start of the summit, which means that 35% of schools will be enrolled by the end of 2023.
Al Shamsi presented the four pillars, including: green education, which focuses on adopting a lifelong learning approach, integrating climate education into educational curricula, and developing students’ skills needed for the labor market. And strengthening capacities on green education, as the Ministry of Education works with national, regional and international activities to build a common reality for young people by enhancing their knowledge and skills to inspire the future generation. and Green Schools, which provide a framework for schools and universities to become more environmentally friendly to reduce their impact on the environment. Finally, green societies, which seek to place schools at the heart of society while involving all segments of society in achieving green education.
Kholoud Al Dhaheri, Executive Director of the Educational Partnerships Sector at the Department of Education, said: “Education cannot be viewed today as a means of transferring knowledge, but rather an effective channel for consolidating values and skills that contribute to building a better world, and sustainability is a solid value in the legacy of the founding father, Sheikh Zayed.” Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God bless his soul, and the cornerstone of building a sustainable future for future generations. Our role in the education sector provides us with a unique opportunity to develop and promote models of sustainable practices and strategies related to climate change within and outside the school community, which contributes to preparing a generation equipped with knowledge and skills, and ready to lead environmental protection efforts in the future.”
The open day was concluded by organizing a networking session in which school principals participated and exchanged knowledge, experiences and creative ideas to achieve sustainability in UAE schools successfully and with the maximum possible impact.
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