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Sustainability / Global Citizenship

Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC)

Quality Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship should not be confined to the classroom, or to one teacher. It is an approach which involves the whole curriculum, management, governors and educators of the school, not merely an ‘add on’ subject. It involves partnerships that the school forms with organisations and the local community. It has its roots in environmental education and development education.

As a result, many of the building blocks of education for sustainable development and global citizenship are already present in every school.

What is ESDGC?

Education for Sustainable Development
Enables people to develop the knowledge, values and skills to participate in decisions about the way we do things individually and collectively, both locally and globally, that will improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for the future.

Education for Global Citizenship
Enables people to understand the global forces which shape their lives and to acquire the knowledge, skills and values that will equip them to participate in decision making, both locally and globally, which promotes a more equitable and sustainable world.

Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship is about:

The links between society, economy and environment and between our own lives and those of people throughout the world
The needs and rights of both present and future generations
The relationship between power, resources and human rights
The local and global implications of everything we do and the actions that individuals and organisations can take in response to local and global issues.

It is not:

a separate subject;
a series of concepts or topics;
confined to the classroom;
the responsibility of just one person;
about transmitting a set of answers to students.

Questions schools can ask:

Do we have an ESDGC policy?
Do we have an ESDGC co-ordinator?
Have we completed an audit in our SDP?
Does our PSE provision give enough attention to ESDGC?
Do we review the scope for changing food procurement?
Are we endeavouring to increase biodiversity in the school grounds?
Are we using healthy and sustainable food and drinks?
Do we have a Fair Trade policy as an institution?
Is our school a focus point for community ESDGC activities?
Do we have links with external organisations to support ESDGC: out of school visits?
Does our school have sustained educational link with school in another area / country, including developing countries?
Are we involved in Eco Schools and Healthy Schools initiatives?
Do we bring ESDGC into subject areas?
Do we make links to Cwricwlwm Cymreig and make ESDGC relevant to every day life in Wales?
Are we encouraging young people to ask questions about our world and what we can do to change or influence it?