Integrating Sustainable Development in Education in Belize

The Ministry of Education, in partnership with UNESCO, hosted a workshop to look at how to integrate sustainable development in education in Belize. Several education sector stakeholders reviewed what is in place and identified ways to integrate education for sustainable development into existing policies for curriculum, teacher education and student assessment. News Five spoke with UNESCO and the Ministry of Education about this initiative.

Deborah Domingo

Deborah Domingo, C.E.O., Ministry of Education

“Knowing that sustainable development is key for Belize, to what extent we should have education policies, curriculum, etc…designed for that purpose – sustainable development. The workshop today brings together about thirty or so stakeholders and it is meant to get input from them about some of the possible approaches. First, we have to explore our common understanding of sustainable development and what education for sustainable development means. And, is this is something that we should be planning for in terms of the work that is to be done with the schools’ curriculum from the pre-primary to secondary level? Is this something that we should take into account as we revisit our teacher education programs? Is this something we should take into account as we continue to push the quality child-friendly school initiative? Is it consistent with the principles of sustainable development.”

Claude Akpabie

Claude Akpabie, Programme Specialist, UNESCO Office for the Caribbean

“There are initiatives already underway within the education sector to integrate the education for sustainable development in policy, like in the country overarching policy right now, HORIZON 2030. There are clear indications that the country wants to take seriously issue of education for sustainable development. Gaps, this is what we are now exploring and by the end of today we will have a clear idea which are the next steps the country can take to start filling those gaps.”