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South Africa: World Conference on Education Underway |
| Source: |
www.sanews.gov.za |
| Source Date: |
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 |
| Focus: |
ICT for MDGs
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| Country: |
South Africa |
| Created: |
Nov 18, 2014 |
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The conference is expected to carry out a stock-taking of the implementation of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Education (DESD) and celebrate the decade’s achievements.
“The conference will showcase initiatives, actors, networks and ideas that were inspired by the DESD and review their impact on the basis of data provided by stakeholders and collected by UNESCO,” the Department of Basic Education said.
“With a view to post-Decade activities, the conference will celebrate successes of the DESD but also analyse obstacles encountered and lessons learnt. Examples of good practice from all over the world will provide valuable insight into viable approaches to ESD and help identify key areas for future action,” it added.
The department said South Africa was praised by the conference as one of the countries who have made much progress in the area of ESD in the past decade.
Minister Motshekga shared with the conference that the ESD activities of the past decade has confirmed the central role that education has to play, and the vital role of educators in creating the citizenry needed to ensure a better future of all.
“One of the most significant achievements in South Africa, whether it was intended or not, has been the reaffirmation and attention given to the role of indigenous knowledge and practices with regards to sustainable living, sustainable development and caring for the wellbeing of future eco-systems,” the department said.
On an international level, the department said South Africa has mobilised collaboration among stakeholders across the globe and has influenced policies both at national and local level.
“It has generated awareness beyond nature conservation and environmental education into industries and has successfully placed consumerism under the micro-scope. During the Decade, the department reviewed its National Curriculum Statement,” the department said.
The department said, during the conference, awareness and engagements in ESD ensured that South Africa’s National Curriculum Statement (NCS) Grades R – 12 embedded the essence of ESD principles in every subject.
The department said principles include human rights, inclusivity, environmental and social justice: infusing the principles and practices of social and environmental justice and human rights as defined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
“The National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12 is sensitive to issues of diversity such as poverty, inequality, race, gender, language, age, disability and other factors,” the department said.
Minister Motshekga committed to strengthening the progress already made in Basic Education by integrating the five priority action areas of the Global Action Programme into the strategic planning framework of the Department of Basic Education.
She would do this by advancing policy; integrating sustainability practices into education and training environments (whole-institution approaches); increasing the capacity of educators and trainers; empowering and mobilising youth; and encouraging local communities and municipal authorities to develop community-based ESD programmes.
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South Africa: World Conference on Education Underway Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is among the panel members sitting in on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO world conference on Education for Sustainable Development ESD in Nagoya Japan The opening discussion which started on Monday helped to set the tone for the entire conference under the theme Celebrating a Decade of Action - What have we achieved what lessons learnt”
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