A Southeast Asia teachers’ network focused on advocating the education for sustainable development was created recently following a workshop organised by UNESCO.
The workshop, held from 24 to 26 April, was designed to review the ‘Sustainability Begins with Teachers’ project.
The project highlights the crucial role teachers play in facilitating social change towards sustainable futures and supporting global efforts to attain the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as set by the United Nations.
The project was implemented in cooperation with Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) and supported by Japan’s government.
A total of 26 universities and teacher education institutions in Southeast Asia participated in the project.
Over the last year, the project participants undertook numerous actions to integrate education on sustainable development (ESD) in teacher education.
For instance in Indonesia, the Universitas Gadjah Mada organised an ESD workshop which allowed teacher education institutions in Yogyakarta to better understand ESD.
The teachers also joined various community movements such as the river restoration and river water harvesting movement.
In Thailand, the Faculty of Education of Chulalongkorn University held a workshop with a university in US for their graduate students to analyse common issues from environmental, social and economic perspectives.
The project resulted in the successful networking of Southeast Asian teacher educators who are committed to promoting ESD in their communities and countries across Southeast Asia.
“We are doing real action for a sustainable life, and taking responsibilities for present and future generations,” said a teacher-participant from Indonesia.