Sustainable Environmental Education at the School Level

Abstract - Sustainable Environmental Education at the School Level

Kathryn Anne Rivai – Director of Sekolah Seri Insan, Sabah, Malaysia; Senior

Consultant ProVisi Education

"Every age has to rediscover for itself the meaning of education; every age has to

reformulate the basic educational aims. This rediscovery of aims is the basis of

educational renewal." O’Donoghue, Thomas (1999)

This paper will explore some changes needed in our education system and more

specifically what we should be providing for our young people as they prepare

themselves for their lives in the 21st century. The paper focuses on school

based-environmental education understanding that this cannot be taught in

isolation rather must be part of a school wide-curriculum.

I believe a school of quality should have an environmental program integrated

across disciplines. Teachers and students need to comprehend the wide concept

of environmental awareness as one of the underlying concepts of learning which

cannot be compartmentalized into separate teaching units.

A pragmatic education today based on knowledge and skills must be anchored

by character education and environmental awareness which are the lynch pins of

social responsibility. Children must have the knowledge and skills of

environmental issues but they must also be equipped with skills to take action, to

make their voice heard and to take responsibility for the world around them.

"Nobody knows tomorrow's curriculum and the range of subjects to be included

in it. Nobody knows the specific technical skills that will be required. Thus, it is

today a question - more so than at any other stage of history - of learning to

learn: at school, in everyday life and at community level." (Nordic Council of

Ministers 1995)

I will endeavour to