Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2021
403. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the way in which climate change and climate science is currently being taught in the primary school curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23277/21]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that under the National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development 2014 – 2020, significant work has been done integrating sustainable development across the curriculum, into the assessment and inspection process and into Initial Teacher Education and Teacher Continuing Professional Development.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) aims to ensure that all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development (UN SDG Target 4.7)
An audit of the curriculum for opportunities and linkages to ESD was carried out by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in 2018. The report shows the curriculum for the following subjects all include specific opportunities for engagement with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 – Climate Change:
Primary History, Primary Geography, Primary Science, Primary SPHE
JC Business Studies, JC Home Economics, JC Science, JC History, JC CSPE
LC Ag. Science, LC Geography, LC Politics & Society
Other subjects would contain non-specific opportunities for engagement, for example a language class could be asked to write an essay on an ESD related topic and so on.
Under the National Strategy, the Department also provides a dedicated ESD portal through Scoilnet which contains a range of ESD related resources for schools to support their teaching.
A significant proportion of schools (97%) engage with the Green Schools programme. Schools also engage with other programmes including the World Wise Global Schools programme, ECO UNESCO, Global Citizenship Schools, SEAI schools programme, EPA programmes and many others. These programme providers all assist schools to deliver the curriculum in relation to ESD.
Large numbers of Schools also participate in a range of national competitions and events where themes of sustainable development are evident such as the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.
On 20th April (Earth Day), Minister Foley and Minister Harris jointly launched a Public Consultation on a follow on National Strategy for ESD to 2030. This will build on the work done under the 1st strategy and will be aligned to UNESCO’s Framework for ESD for 2030 which sets out the following 5 key priority areas:
- Advancing Policy and Policy Coherence, Education and Training:
- Transforming Learning Environments,
- Capacity Building for Educators and Trainers,
- Empowering and mobilising Youth and
- Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level and engaging with the wider community.
The public consultation will remain open until the 30th June and both Departments will continue to engage with key stakeholders including the school community into the early autumn with a view to publishing a new strategy for ESD to 2030 in early 2022.
