Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) enables learners to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values required to become active participants, individually and collectively, in decision-making processes, both at local and global levels that will improve the quality of life of present and future generations.

ESD promotes a system based approach and an integrated knowledge base that invites learners to develop a holistic view of their surroundings, i.e. an interaction of aesthetic, environmental, economic, political, technological, cultural and societal perspectives. Through ESD, the learner’s environment (within and outside the school) becomes a fundamental teaching resource that is locally relevant and culturally sensitive.

Learning experiences are structured around the identification and resolution of environmental issues that equip and empower learners with problem solving and decision making skills that are indispensable in the context of lifelong learning.

ESD is about learning that:

• Re-orients education to address sustainable development.

• Respects, values and preserves past achievements.

• Values the Earth’s resources and its peoples.

• Strives towards a world in which all humans have access to sufficient food and water, a healthy and productive life, basic education, and a safer and just environment.

• Assesses, cares for and restores the state of our planet.

• Develops citizens who exercise their rights and responsibilities locally, nationally and globally. (United Nations, 2004; UNESCO, 2006).

The Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes (DLAP) is at the forefront in developing, managing and implementing learning programmes in all learning areas and across all cycles. These areas include Primary Science, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Materials Sciences and Environmental Studies. The National Curriculum Framework 2012 (NCF) also promotes ESD in its broad perspective as a cross-curricular theme that permeates across all learning areas and levels. In this context, ESD learning outcomes feature in the syllabi of all subjects.

DLAP’s vision is to provide the necessary support in terms of logistics and educator capacity building to ensure sound embedding of ESD and Global Education principles in formal and informal learning.

To contact Ministry for Education and Employment
Ministry for Education and Employment
Great Siege Road, Floriana, VLT 2000, Malta
+356 2598 3582 , desiree.scicluna.bugeja@ilearn.edu.mt, francesco.debono@ilearn.edu.mt