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Make sustainable thinking a habit

Dubai - Many educators here are calling for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to be integrated throughout the formal curriculum.

The concept behind sustainable schools not only helps reduce the school's ecological footprint, it also helps students increase their ecological handprint.
By encouraging new generations to actively participate in actions towards achieving sustainability, it will help educate them in the context of the environment they live, in turn shaping their ability to become responsible citizens and future leaders.
As such, many educators here are calling for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to be integrated throughout the formal curriculum.
And according to Brendon Fulton, Principal of Dubai British School (Taaleem) "most good schools" already are.

In order to effectively integrate sustainable development into their programmes of study, Fulton told Khaleej Times there needs to be a sustainable approach to it in the education sector.
"Rather than skirting the issues, curricula should directly address the economic, social, environmental and cultural dilemmas and provide educational opportunities for our youth to become a part of the future solutions."
Earlier this month, an initiative called 'Dubai Solar Schools' was launched, which aims to involve the Dubai education sector in the Dewa 'Shams Dubai' regulation.
With a vision to target 100 schools in Dubai by 2020, the initiative will indirectly see 200,000 families contributing towards the Dubai Clean Energy Plan 2050.
Although the effort was welcomed, many educators questioned the role of students in the initiative, and wanted to explore how it would be beneficial to the students, as well as the planet.
"The essential elements for sustainable development are society, economy, environment and culture. Embracing a holistic approach in schools helps students to develop the knowledge, skills and ?understanding to be able to make decisions that will improve the quality of life," Fulton said.
Also read: Why educating young minds matters
Talking about the benefits of ESD to students, he noted development of understanding and empathy for issues outside of their immediate social and economic surroundings, as the main players.
"The ability to apply these to real-world problems and engage in opportunities to conceptualise solutions is a huge benefit to their learning experience and to their development as responsible citizens of the world."
Rather than just fit-out a school out with all the mod-cons to promote a greener environment, mindsets need to be tweaked too and sustainable thinking has to become a habit, not a chore.
"Tackling sustainability issues gives students the experience of being a part of small-scale solutions. That's an encouraging practice," he said.
But whose role is it to promote this type of active learning?
Simply put, it needs to be a collective effort, "starting at home and in school, and then supported by industry".
"Dubai British School thrives on the energy of students who genuinely want to make a difference. As a school, providing the impetus for this drive, exposing students to contexts and then laying the educational platform for them to define their role/s in the solution, helps us fulfill that philosophy."
kelly@khaleejtimes.com